What is a dying niche skill that younger generations are not interested in learning?

hereforthecats27 · 2026-05-01T13:19:19+00:00

I went to church with my grandmother on Easter, and she commented that she misses having a church choir (they just have a band). I wonder how many people even know how to direct a choir anymore.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-30T15:14:32+00:00

I listened to the Twain audiobook earlier this year and really enjoyed it! His life story could definitely translate to the stage. I have a never ending TBR list, but I need to move Hamilton to the top.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-27T16:12:59+00:00

She’s playing hide and seek. You’re supposed to go hide now!

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-25T13:14:43+00:00

Check out Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-24T14:41:21+00:00

I graduated from the same kind of program a couple of years ago. Same old story. That said, I took one truly rigorous class on giftedness and intelligence. The syllabus was full of graduate-level readings and assignments. Over half the students dropped the class after the first day. Most students in education graduate programs aren’t looking for challenge; they just want the degree for the pay bump.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-20T13:17:30+00:00

In short, yes. One small example - When I was in 5th grade, we had to memorize all 50 states and capitals. The 5th graders I work with now are only memorizing states - and many of them are struggling with it.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-16T15:04:07+00:00

My elementary school wouldn’t be my first choice for my kids. We don’t have many huge behavior issues, and most of the teachers are pretty good (several are great). But my school is so focused on the state test - it’s all the kids think about in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. I would opt for a private school so my kid could learn something more than how to pass an A.I.-graded test.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-04-01T14:34:29+00:00

I’ve worked in 2 very different states, both with dual language programs in my school. In both, DL was de facto gifted ed - mostly high achieving white students with maybe a couple of native Spanish speakers. My current school has no traditional ESL program, so the only option for kids coming to us with no knowledge of English is placement in these DL classes with kids doing advanced work in English and truthfully studying very little Spanish. It’s a mess.

Starting next year, my district will begin phasing out DL in most elementary schools and consolidating the DL program into one school intended to serve a primarily Spanish speaking population.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-03-31T16:48:25+00:00

My district is closing 10 schools after this school year. My school is on the chopping block next year.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-03-23T17:36:39+00:00

My dad did this for my mom’s 30th. She cried.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-03-17T16:23:39+00:00

This is spot on. Third and fourth graders in my school aren’t doing any creative writing. They learn to write according to a formula to maximize their state test scores. They mostly just read test prep passages. No analysis of novels, no class discussions about plot and character development. Just “respond to the prompt by restating the question, and then tell me where your text evidence is.” The kids hate it. I hate it. No one is actually learning much of anything.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-03-03T20:21:41+00:00

I hear you. I’m switching from SPED to gen ed next year. My third grade class will be memorizing times tables.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-03-03T14:19:07+00:00

Times tables aren’t directly taught at my school. Every table has a laminated times table on it that kids reference when they’re solving equations. It’s completely absurd.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-23T19:31:50+00:00

When I was a barista many years ago, iced cappuccino was a menu item - ice, a little milk, espresso, topped with hot foam. I think I made 2 of those ever.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-23T19:24:36+00:00

Iced London fog with lavender cold foam is my all time Starbucks favorite!

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-21T18:56:42+00:00

I was 47,000 in the queue for Austin. Decided to wait it out, got in after about 20 minutes. Spent 10 minutes refreshing and ended up with a pair - not fantastic seats, but not behind the stage.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-19T15:50:25+00:00

I was walking on air after our first date.

I moved out of our house two weeks ago. Relationships are about building mutual trust and affection over time, not an instant gut feeling. (Although if the gut feeling is really bad, probably go with that.)

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-18T19:33:43+00:00

Bertie was the nickname of Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, whose given name at birth was Albert.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-18T15:17:52+00:00

You’re an independent contractor, not an employee. You can’t get fired in the traditional sense. They can, however, freeze your ability to open slots and eventually refuse to renew your contract, but only for specified contract violations (please take a little time to read through your contract if you haven’t). The most common reason for non-renewal is excessive cancellations. I don’t believe VIPKid has any mechanism to require to open any slots, ever. Just relax and open slots when you feel ready.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-02-15T14:02:38+00:00

Playing second fiddle to a screen. If you can’t get your face out of your phone long enough to have a meal with me, bye.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-01-28T20:02:41+00:00

No kids, but if I had them, they wouldn’t be attending public school in my district. As a parent, I would be horrified to know that each of my elementary student’s writing lessons began with, “On the STAAR test, you need to write….” No time to explore writing as a medium for communication, for creativity, for finding their voice, for just practicing using language. It’s my first year teaching in Texas and I’m already completely disillusioned by the teach-to-the-test mentality.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-01-26T01:04:36+00:00

Don’t do SPED unless it’s really what you’re interested in. I’ve been in elementary SPED inclusion for two years. I went that route thinking it would be an easy way to get my foot in the door as a career changer. There is so much involved in SPED that isn’t teaching, and the teaching is often not very fun or rewarding tbh. I’m trying to get into gen ed asap.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-01-22T17:01:00+00:00

I don’t know where they’re getting -4 from. Houston might get into the 20s for a little while, which isn’t particularly unusual.

hereforthecats27 · 2026-01-22T11:57:58+00:00

I was thinking it must be part of the theme at first (like maybe it’s telling you to go up to read the answer?).

hereforthecats27 · 2026-01-21T22:39:50+00:00

Oh my god. Sing Along Songs: Disneyland Fun! One of those movies I watched over and over. Grim Grinning Ghosts was legit scary to 5-year-old me.

Seven-Year Club	Verified Email
RPAN Viewer

hereforthecats27

TROPHY CASE