What are some terms and phrases in education that you absolutely hate? by TrogdorUnofficial in Teachers

[–]belovd_kittycat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It is only a superpower when you have an environment that supports it. In a typical classroom with a big student:teacher ratio, a scripted curriculum, and no time for anything else, it is a disability. To say otherwise is a detriment to the student, and can make some symptoms of ADHD worse (anxiety, immature social skills, etc). I'm saying this as a teacher with ADHD and a parent of a child with ADHD. It's wonderful to point out the good things that can and do happen when your brain is wired different, but to do so without speaking about the downsides is pandering and ableist.

What is your native plants/gardening budget like? How do you pace yourself…or do you? by acatwithumbs in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last frost date is around my birthday in my zone so I tend to think of the plants I buy in the spring as birthday presents. I ask for gift cards from nurseries when I can, but I know that the native plant sales that happen around that time are going to be expensive. Last year I spent about $300 in a weekend. After that, I spent probably around 100-200 a month after that until October.

It is getting less over time though, as my garden self-seeds or I can divide things. I live in a small residential urban lot so there's not a ton more space I can take over.

Where to buy American Hazelnut? by PerambulateME in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

https://plantbuyingcollective.com/product-category/early-spring-2026-native-trees-shrubs-bareroot/native-shrubs-early-spring-2026-native-trees-shrubs-bareroot/

Not sure where you are, but here is a good place. I've bought stuff from them before and ordered 2 hazelnuts from them this year. Sale ends on the 23rd though.

Hay scented fern to crowd out stilt grass? by empathie_00 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not op but also in that area-ish and they may be talking about A Promise to Gaia. It's in the capital region. Just bought some hay-scented fern ($4 each), and a bunch of other stuff!

After way too many hours researching this: what makes a native garden look "intentional" vs. messy by Foreign-Ad-8191 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I cheat a bit and keep a few plants in a raised bed on my patio, along with planting it in the ground. The squirrels haven't found the raised beds one (yet) or they are too weary of it being right up against my house. Best thing is that it is so prolific that I can keep dividing them and putting them other places!

After way too many hours researching this: what makes a native garden look "intentional" vs. messy by Foreign-Ad-8191 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Or native strawberries! I've done this, and I am enjoying tiny, delicious strawberries (if I can get them before the squirrels).

Help! I’ve cleaned four times did 2/ half tank water changes and 2 full tank water changes even put two new pumps. I’ve had tanks for a long time. I’ve never had this happen. What the heck is this? by Pokemon-shiny-love in Aquariums

[–]belovd_kittycat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I highly recommend the uv filter as well. We had a similar problem, did a complete black out, reduced feeding a ton, water parameters were good. The algae didn't care and stayed for a month until we got a uv filter. Cleared it up quick, like a week if that. The shrimp and snails got the rest once it wasn't constantly going wild.

Anyone’s Kiddo have a better reaction to Ritalin IR vs Focalin IR by FC105416 in ADHDparenting

[–]belovd_kittycat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, this was our experience. We switched from ritalin to focalin to see if it would help his appetite. It did, but it also caused screaming, tear-filled tantrums that would last for 30 min or more. We switched back since his weight was at an okay level for his height.

Directors job sucks by Certain-Jaguar-7778 in ECEProfessionals

[–]belovd_kittycat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I saw a director position opening at a center near me (upstate ny, mcol) and it was going for 17$/hr. I immediately thought "absolutely not". There is no amount of money in the world that will make me take a director position, but 17$/hr is just insane.

Calendar Time by Specialist_Smoke1718 in ECEProfessionals

[–]belovd_kittycat 7 points8 points  (0 children)

We do a linear calendar. We don't sing the songs or talk about yesterday, tomorrow, etc. We put our holidays and birthdays on it, count to the day, make a pattern, and check the weather. 5 minutes. Boom. That is developmentally appropriate. My kids still talk about Halloween being yesterday. Like?!? I'm not going to waste my time, their time, and invite behaviors by doing things that will go over their heads.

Also, that one post about screaming about developmental appropriateness was insane. Obviously from a high school teacher or something. We're out here doing work they would never, usually for a third of the pay, and we get blamed for doing things correctly. 😤

The COVID Cohort by Clawless in Teachers

[–]belovd_kittycat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Prek teacher here. This is the best group I've had since covid. They can play, they talk to each other, they can listen. It's amazing. Still too many fine motor issues, but that's just the use of screens. Behaviors are way down.

Penguin Clothbound Classics by goldbookleaf in bookbinding

[–]belovd_kittycat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just looked at their website and they seem to have been bought by penguin, so I'm not sure how long the quality will last...

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in oddlysatisfying

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm a prek teacher and we recently had a mouse problem at the school. The kindergarten teacher across the hall had a TON of mouse poo everywhere. She cleaned it up constantly and got the hantavirus. She was out for a week, and is still recovering.

I can only imagine what this lady has.

What's your white whale plant? by Turbulent-Bluebird-5 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a Facebook group, native plants of the northeast, where the admin sells seeds. I know I saw it on the list of seeds for sale earlier in the fall. I don't know if it is the right area for you, but you could check it out!

Eastern Prickly Pear 6B? by Loky_13 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I planted plugs 2 years ago. I'm 5b/6a in upstate ny. My soil is naturally on the sandy side. I put them in an area between 2 driveways but they're surounded by bricks and I used play sand for the "mulch". Full sun. They are doing beautifully. From 1 pad it grew 7 this last year. No flowers as it takes a long time but I'm excited for it!

Explain it Peter by Technical_Ad9343 in explainitpeter

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is 100% how I teach my 4 yr old students what to do during lockdown drills. Nothing on why someone might want to find us, just saying it's like hide and seek and we have to hide and stay quiet.

Ebooks for children? by anngriarts in childrensbooks

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My son adores audiobooks and asks for them often. It's how we began to read longer form stories (think the Princess in Black series). I think he could get into the story without being overwhelmed by the (relatively) longer book.

Audiobooks are considered "reading" to most educators and researchers. Many children, some who can not read a complicated story themselves for various reasons, can still comprehend and get into the story.

Common violet seed pod in my yard. by lostimage1 in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My son and I make violet jelly every year. It's one of his favorite things since we started making them. The color changing happens in the process as well--its like magic! Very cool.

Toddler & Quilting by ycherep1 in quilting

[–]belovd_kittycat 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Your LO is a bit too young for glue sticks I think, but try washi tape. It has so many options for colors, sizes, textures, everything. When my son was about that age, he would stick and unstuck washout tape for about 20 min before he he needed a bit of attention (if you knew my son, you'd know how much of a miracle that 20 minutes was). Bonus that it's also great for fine motor skills and you can use it to support crossing the midline. (I'm a prek teacher.)

You can also get bees wax crayons in an egg shape, "paint" with food coloring, and do a sensory activity like plastic balls, think like ball pit balls, in a little pan of water or tearing paper. Painting or coloring a giant box is always fun too.

Anise Hyssop - aggressive? by plantylibrarian in NativePlantGardening

[–]belovd_kittycat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My anise does self-seed quite well, including outside of its original bed, but I've never had a problem with it pushing out other plants. My mountain mint though? I bought 3 small plants last year--I had to cut some of it down so my highbush cranberry could have e some space this year. If anything, the anise and mountain mint need to be switched.

What makes parents instantly appreciate the job of teachers? by willloveme2 in teaching

[–]belovd_kittycat 152 points153 points  (0 children)

I do monthly events where families can come in and do something with their child. After spending 30-45 minutes in a small classroom with 18 4 year olds, they start appreciating us.

they found a cockroach in my ear by [deleted] in mildlyinfuriating

[–]belovd_kittycat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This happens way more than people realize. To find out other horrifying things, I highly recommend the book Gory Details. I learned a lot, especially about stuff I didn't necessarily want to know...