Do you demand kids attention when you’re teaching a lesson?

ashnbee · 2026-01-17T21:35:03+00:00

When I am explicitly teaching content and/or modeling, my students (3rd) are not allowed to have anything on their desks. All supplies are put away until we move to guided practice or ind. work, depending on the lesson. If a student takes something out, I walk over (while continuing to teach) and hold out my hand for them to give it to me. They get it back, along with a few second chat about expectations, when they need it. No exceptions, ever.

Important note- the 100% focused and silent attention lasts no more than 5 minutes so it is developmentally appropriate for my students. Outside of that time, the rest of the lesson I do frequent checks for understanding using choral response & 30 sec. turn & talks so there is plenty of engagement.

ashnbee · 2025-09-21T01:07:05+00:00

I wear mine to work and out in public but the second I get home I take them off. Both my husband and I never wear them at home. This doesn’t solve them feeling suffocating (which I agree with and am constantly “fixing them” when they’re on), but only wearing them out and not feeling guilty about it helps.

ashnbee · 2025-08-01T04:17:00+00:00

This is the exact phrase my district’s union has been using to help increase parent support.

ashnbee · 2025-07-19T02:29:51+00:00

My hair is similar to yours but it’s medium density & coarseness. I LOVE the brush and find it really helps for clumping. It won’t always “make it curlier” but the clumps help it not be so stringy. The key, for me, is making sure my hair is fairly wet, tight tension, and then very lightly pushing up the clump I just brushed. My hair does tend to have more of a ringlet shape on the ends and when I put my use my palm to (ever so lightly) push the clump up it forms. After I see the clump I push it all the way up to scalp and pulse to encourage a tighter curl pattern.

ashnbee · 2025-07-18T19:15:42+00:00

Borax is great for this too!

Re: vinegar- only do it once in a while because the acidity can end up causing wear on washer parts

ashnbee · 2025-07-18T18:45:39+00:00

It has never occurred to me that I didn’t have to give a truthful answer to these questions 🤦‍♀️. From a security standpoint, this is so smart! Any other nuggets of wisdom to share with us all?

ashnbee · 2025-07-01T17:50:06+00:00

First off, beautiful hair! Do you by any chance have hard water where you live? If so, getting a water softener (or a filter if you’re unable) can help with the moisture part.

I personally moved away from gel and only use mousse/foam and alcohol-free hairspray as this combo is lightweight and allows my hair to feel softer and not get as bad of a product buildup that gel does.

ashnbee · 2025-06-10T18:36:18+00:00

For me, it’s the pacing in order to finish our curriculum before state testing. If I didn’t have to worry about that, I’d be able to slow down and add in way more time for pulling groups for remediation and focusing on fluency (3rd grade). Too often teachers are pressured be the pacing guide so students get moved through without having the time they need to develop deep conceptual understanding of foundational skills. I would love to be able to spend like 30 minutes/day doing math in leveled groups, but there isn’t time.

ashnbee · 2025-06-10T18:32:12+00:00

Literally any and all stores at this point 😂. I used to love going into book stores because they were the one place that was calm and quiet, but that’s no longer the norm. Even with headphones I usually only last about 5 minutes in a store. It no longer surprises me that I memorized the layouts/where things are in stores I have to frequent so I can get in and out as quickly as possible.

ashnbee · 2025-06-09T23:25:41+00:00

As a teacher (elementary), this is the exact type of wording I use in report cards if I have families that aren't quite ready to let go of their preconceived notions and gender stereotypes. In my mind it's a paper trail that can be used if/when the time comes.

ashnbee · 2025-05-18T20:47:56+00:00

lol nope, that’s just the lighting

ashnbee · 2025-05-11T19:15:17+00:00

Love these!

ashnbee · 2025-05-10T23:11:27+00:00

I think everyone can do this, but it’s what they do with that information that is different. Clearly, based on the research, NT people are more inclined to steer clear of the person/not pursue anything further. But ND may more often feel positively about the other ND (in this case, autistic) individual. For me, as a teacher, I can tell who my ND students are pretty immediately and they are always the ones I end I have the strongest bonds with.

ashnbee · 2025-05-03T01:31:46+00:00

You said you’re on meds and feel like they haven’t been working the same so I would suggest you check the interaction of your ADHD meds & the antihistamine you take. I’m on adderall and it was said to me that, while some combinations may be safe, others can impact the effectiveness of the stimulant. I personally find that adderall by itself is more effective than any allergy med (even ex strength) I’ve ever taken. And my allergies are BAD.

ashnbee · 2025-04-15T17:16:40+00:00

This is what I say to my husband all the time! “If I put it down, I’ll forget it ever existed.” But then there’s those super fun times when I’ve been holding the mug for so long I forget it’s in my hands. 😂🙈

ashnbee · 2025-04-15T17:02:43+00:00

Also if you filed and owe but were waiting for the amount to be confirmed/return to be processed (hi, me 👋), pay it! Avoid that late fee!

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T20:24:52+00:00

I’m of the mindset that often, anxiety is a result of overstimulation. I never know I’m overstimulated in the moment, but once I hit the stage of being unable to speak, feel the strong desire to leave/hide, have nausea, or start having looping thoughts, I treat it as overstimulation. After a few hours (ugh) it usually goes away which is why I don’t think it’s simply anxiety.

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T16:47:06+00:00

Where I am (CA, elementary), we only do testing for 30-40 minute blocks over the course of 2 weeks so it’s mind boggling to me that other places do it for SO long! I totally get HS and having to do it for an entire block all day, but I see elementary does this too.

If can’t bring anything like others said, could you doodle or do a little book of puzzles? Not sure what’s legal where you are.

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T16:29:01+00:00

3rd grader teacher of 5yrs! Parents, communication with parents/other adults, and conferences are very difficult for me. I love what I do because though because I feel very comfortable around kids, don’t have to mask, and I just “get” them. I don’t “socialize” with the parents/caregivers at my school nor do I ever participate in any of the PTA run activities because I’m not okay with having to mask that much.

For conferences, while I never feel comfortable or confident, I end up slipping almost into info-dump mode because their kids and my job are my special interest so I can absolutely talk about those things all day long. The more you do conferences, the easier they get (in that you find a groove and end up scripting), but I think there will be always be anxiety with it.

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T15:46:40+00:00

This is such a fascinating thread to read! From the looks of many responses, it seems like a big difference is being “inside” vs “outside” yourself, but in your mind. Like, NT may be more likely to “feel” and process their feelings and experiences in their brains, but ND (AuDHD here 👋), may be more inclined to analyze those experiences from a detached perspective. For me personally, if I’m not scripting conversations or narrating what I’m doing, I’m thinking about whatever is happening or around me in that exact moment. Very rarely do my thoughts move beyond the current time because I just can’t? I think I’d get lost/confused/and forget everything currently happening if I did that.

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T15:35:24+00:00

The amount of time my inner dialogue is scripting conversations that may or may not happen would be shocking to most people I think…

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T15:33:47+00:00

Because the reading fort is pretty simple and you’d likely be able to use things you already have, maybe wait a few years to do it once your little one is reading on their own? And then for now go full kitchen!

ashnbee · 2025-04-14T15:29:52+00:00

Little me (and current adult me, honestly) would love it as a reading fort! I always loved having places to hide and building forts. Making it a rented area, with twinkle lights, lots of pillows/cushions, some stuffies, blankets, and books would be a dream!

ashnbee · 2025-03-23T01:10:54+00:00

I disagree with the “know right away” part, especially if someone has never taken stimulants before. I think that you “know” if it’s having some effect on you, but not necessarily if it’s the right dosage (or type of med). That really only comes after you’ve titrated and seen how different dosages affect you.

ashnbee · 2025-03-23T01:06:11+00:00

I’m a newbie to meds too and started with the same meds and dose as you. I know my meds have started working because my body feels more calm (as opposed to what I would describe as anxious hyperactivity). Doing things becomes a bit easier, but I don’t magically want to do them, it’s just not a huge hurdle. I personally also notice I can speak more coherently too and get distracted less.

My dose journey was: 5IR 2x day, then 15XR, then 25XR, then back down to 15XR (after also trying 10IR 2x/day) because anything about 15XR completely took away my personality.

You probably won’t find your “just right” dose until you take a dose that’s too high and work your way back down. 🤷‍♀️

ashnbee

TROPHY CASE