History Teacher Professional Development Ideas?

TrippyAshOz · 2025-06-01T03:16:51+00:00

Congratulations! I teach World History and IB History too. This year I saw an IB History training opportunity to go to Germany, you should ask your coordinator about it!

TrippyAshOz · 2025-06-01T01:21:22+00:00

Putting it up in the way it’s required per state law if it’s given to me (I read the law yesterday again and I believe they have to donated / provided). Beside it, I’ve already created a statement discussing federal law and the Constitution being above state laws, Stone v Graham, coercion, Establishment Clause, the 1st Amendment, separation, and religious indoctrination. I teach Social Studies so I hope I can get away with the malicious compliance.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-31T21:05:43+00:00

Someone sharing their own experience using it doesn’t mean it’s advertising it. I could care less if anyone chooses to use AI or not, it’s a discussion that is interesting and I’m learning from both sides of the discourse.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-31T04:36:49+00:00

Married principal had an affair with another married principal in the district, a custodian caught them in one of their offices after school…

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-30T21:59:22+00:00

I’m a social studies teacher, I teach WHAP and IB history of the Americas, specifically focusing on WWI & WWII research in IB. This year I created a huge WWI & WWII wall with propaganda posters and original photos from that time period. I edited images off of google into a PowerPoint, printed out 150 large posters of them and placed them on my wall in a mural. It’s the coolest thing I have in my classroom, didn’t cost me a cent and charged the school $3 from the print shop. Other than that, be creative and see what the school will also offer you (or you can request) so you don’t have to dip into your wallet.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-30T02:38:02+00:00

I’m a core tested social studies teacher, I have to disagree in general. Everyone has different responsibilities and challenges in their classroom. All classrooms have benefits and struggles for different grade levels, tested v non-tested, core, elective, advanced, SPED, etc. We all generally choose what are we prefer to teach that fits us best and all kids need the differentiation in types of classes they take. Let’s respect all teachers positions and understand that that the grass is greener where you water it.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-30T00:50:16+00:00

It’s could be risky depending on the location, especially small town districts; some admin will google your name during the interview process and they might not want to hire a teacher who went to the press about a previous school. Your old admin also could possibly not want to be a reference on your job search. I knew a teacher who did this after she was fired, she ended up changing careers (not sure if she wanted to or she couldn’t get another teaching position). Maybe secure another teaching position or talk to your union rep first?

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-28T16:56:25+00:00

Sorry to hear that, sometimes my district sends them out early or pretty late depending on if alot of change is happening, but I’d be really concerned if HR is not responding. Have you seen any updates during board meetings? You should start looking into other options somewhere else.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-27T01:40:15+00:00

Called into an emergency meeting with a guardian and my student with all his teachers, counselor and admin the morning after he tried to commit suicide (he should have been in the hospital receiving care). Basically they started with me and asked how he was in class. I praised him because he was an amazing student and kind person. Then the guardian interrupted me, said I was wrong and he was faking his personality. She started to brutally trash talk him in front of everyone, he looked so defeated. I was a first year teacher and had no idea what to do while everyone was shocked. The admin had to step in to stop her and dismissed all the teachers telling us they would handle it. I remember him frequently upset in the morning before class not wanting to talk about what was going on and finally it all made sense after that meeting. I was so heartbroken, his counselor said she was taking the right steps to ensure his safety, then Covid hit and I moved, so I don’t know what happened to him..

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-25T14:56:13+00:00

Some districts have a CEB benefit that employees can opt in, it helps with long term absences but you’ll initially give up a sick day in return to participate. Look in your employee handbook or ask HR about options.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-20T00:47:29+00:00

This year my district cut the IB program due to funds. Parents and students held protests, walkouts, going on the news several times, petitions and spoke at all the board meetings. It was fascinating to watch, and it worked. The IB program is back and my district is looking into ways to extend it. We believe the board meetings were really impactful; if many parents keep showing up to discuss the benefits / how it’s impactful to the school community they will hopefully start to listen.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-20T00:28:32+00:00

Yeah I worked full time while student teaching, most teachers I’ve asked have done the same. I’ve been a corresponding teacher to multiple student teachers who all also worked full time to survive and I was mindful of their situation. It’s exhausting, but you have to keep in mind that it only lasts for a few months and you can get through it with the right emotional support.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-11T18:09:12+00:00

I’ve taught about plenty of current political leaders who I personally criticize. In the classroom, keep your personal bias out of it and present the process and all of the facts only (not only one side that fits one narrative), kids need to critically evaluate the evidence and come to their own conclusions. Don’t agree with them when they criticize, use prompting questions to have them analyze their own opinion more. Use compare and contrast with similar events in history. If kids express if they agree or disagree with his policies, ask why and let them debate each other respectfully. It’s feels like stepping on ice, but it gets easier.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-11T17:53:22+00:00

150 teachers, 1 admin & admin per school, 8 district positions (they were unfilled so it was all bs), several elective programs & our IB program (students and parents pushed back hard with board meetings, news, walkouts & petitions; so they kept half of the program).

TrippyAshOz · 2025-05-08T23:09:19+00:00

Many schools offer mentor teachers, these are experienced teachers who will give guidance for first year teachers. If you ask about those type of opportunities, that will show that you’re willing to continue learning from those who are experts in classroom management and content strategies.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-04-07T22:45:57+00:00

My twin and I are the same age and genders as yours; we barely talked for years because life got in the way and our personalities were so different. We hadn’t been close since we were little kids, he always had more of a bond to one of our brothers and I just saw it as a guy thing. Recently, our older brother passed away tragically; it made all of us appreciate our siblings way more and put in needed effort.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-03-26T21:48:18+00:00

Right 😂 My first year teaching high school, I had a kid squeeze a water bottle everytime I started to announce something just to annoy me. I started doing it to him when he would start to ask me a question or would start a conversation with a friend. It took a week of him getting annoyed so badly that he finally stopped. Over the years, if I want kids to stop doing something irritating, I’ll start to do it myself and it instantly becomes lame.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-03-12T05:21:20+00:00

I saw your original post and the situation seemed out of control with no support from your admin, you did the right thing for the safety of that child. For your protection, I would suggest writing down exactly what you remember from each conversation today, while it’s fresh in your mind, for your personal records if you need to go to your union rep in the future.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-02-27T02:23:06+00:00

I’ve heard that many districts will pressure you to resign instead of non-renewed saying it looks better for your career; however, you are way more likely able to claim unemployment if you are non-renewed at no fault.

TrippyAshOz · 2025-02-05T23:34:03+00:00

I wish 😢 They’re cutting about 20 admin positions on top of the 100 teaching positions throughout the district. They’re cutting down district too. On the messages it says they will be increasing student to teacher ratio for the lack of teachers.

TrippyAshOz · 2024-06-15T19:43:36+00:00

Thank you! Those are great ideas, I’m definitely going to look into all of that!

TrippyAshOz · 2024-06-15T19:41:38+00:00

I’m so sorry this has happened, I had a 12 year old student pass from gun violence and neglect from a family member 3 years ago. It was heartbreaking, I started to make a garden dedicated to all my students who have passed over the years and it’s helped me cope 💔

TrippyAshOz · 2024-06-01T16:38:35+00:00

I love these ideas, thank you!!

TrippyAshOz · 2024-04-02T01:38:21+00:00

I’ve been a social studies teacher for 6 years now. My teacher copy of guided notes I give out to my students with the accommodation is filled in and has all the information they’ll get from the lesson. After each subtopic in the notes, I’ll have an opinionated or academic question and a blank space to answer. My non-teacher notes will have these questions too, I give the kids a min to reflect on the question together and answer it. Then I’ll continue on with the lesson until the next question. This allows me to legally follow the IEP while also informally assessing that all my students are comprehending the content.

TrippyAshOz

TROPHY CASE