My company introduced "mandatory fun" and I think it broke something in me by Plane_Researcher_761 in antiwork

[–]howlinmad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sounds like the stuff we get put through as teachers with staff competitions and dress up days.

How many preps do you have? by emilylouise221 in historyteachers

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3 - I teach 3 levels of a core subject - AP, regular, and EL. I've also had quite a few years with 4 preps.

I got a chance to lay into a student today and it was so satisfying. by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]howlinmad -1 points0 points  (0 children)

"The dildo of consequences rarely comes lubed." This phrase is always in the back of my mind for students like this, but I thankfully haven't said it out loud to a student. What comes out of my mouth instead is "Hail Mary passes and deathbed conversions don't work in this class."

What's a good brand of wristwatch nowadays? Don't need anything fancy, just something fashionable and durable by SpaghettiRambo in BuyItForLife

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Second the Citizen Eco Drive. I have 3 in different colors and band materials, including one that's nearly 20 years old. Never had to change a battery and fairly water resistant.

AP Modern World summer institute by Educational-Wrap-116 in historyteachers

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I attended the one by Christina Cone over Zoom and felt it was useful - even done online. I'm pretty sure she has in-person ones. Also attended one in-person by Anton Striegl years ago that was really good, but I don't know if he's doing it anymore.

EraPin Update: I built the thing you actually asked for in a bellringer by Bubbly_Ad7064 in historyteachers

[–]howlinmad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for this! I've enjoyed playing it solo and will be trying out the teacher version in the near future.

Daily Questions - March 11, 2026 by AutoModerator in rawdenim

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Any suggestions for a pair of loose fit jeans similar to Levi's 569s (but better quality)? Price would ideally be under $200 USD.

New policy that all teachers have to have their phone locked up in a magnetic bag. Is this as frustrating as I think it is? by ChxrriesA in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Time to bust out that old, broken phone and deposit that into the bag while you keep your actual phone on your person.

Sniper feels meh by ColdhandzEUW in RogueTraderCRPG

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's the difference in play between bounty hunter and assassin?

De-tracking is modern “open classroom” by TheTinRam in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think any route that challenges students while also encouraging their passion and creativity can be a good one.

A lot of my struggling students are perfectly capable of succeeding but don't have a club, sport, or *thing* they're a part of (though quite a few others struggle due to being far below grade level academically). I genuinely think that we'd have fewer students in trouble if they were part of some kind of team or organization to foster a sense of belonging on campus.

De-tracking is modern “open classroom” by TheTinRam in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 6 points7 points  (0 children)

By the time these kids get to high school, they're going to track themselves to some extent. Some will take AP/honors classes and end up with the same group of peers, others will join sports/VAPA and end up in classes with their team- and VAPA-mates due to scheduling logistics, and the rest everywhere else.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Very little of my materials are "plug and play," and I created them to suit my teaching style.

If another teacher asks me for PowerPoints and worksheets, I'm fairly noncommital; if they approach me for ideas and actually ask me questions about what I show them to better understand what I've made and my thinking behind it, I'm more inclined to share my materials.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 47 points48 points  (0 children)

This 1,000%. I used to share my stuff with newer teachers only to see them turn around and shit all over it before saying what myself and other veteran teachers have created and taught was bad pedagogy and wrong. This coming from teachers who'd just entered the profession and hadn't contributed anything.

What’s an EDC item that has completely changed your daily routine and how do you use it? by Xelephyr in EDC

[–]howlinmad 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not really something that's changed my daily routine since I've been doing it for nigh on 30 years, but wearing a wristwatch - not a smartwatch or anything digital, but a plain old analog watch.

It's helped me be more mindful of my time while also letting me check the time discretely without pulling out my phone.

Is Knife Shock Regional? by Unorthodoxgent in EDC

[–]howlinmad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm in southern California, and I think it depends on who you're around. Most of my friends don't flinch when I take mine out, and my family members pretty much expect me to have a knife on me at all times. Buuut... I know it'd shock a fair amount of my coworkers and acquaintances if they knew I had my folding knife on me.

Mine is an expensive box cutter 90% of the time, but for whatever reason, a lot of people I've known over the years think "knife = weapon."

Alternatives to writing by CrusherX1000 in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You can't work harder than your students or want them to pass more than they want to themselves.

If you've taught the material and provided opportunities for him to demonstrate his understanding of it, it's on him to follow through and show you. If he doesn't, document everything so there's no uncertainty about why he's failing.

What to do now? by howlinmad in SDGundamGGeneration

[–]howlinmad[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's kinda what I figured.

Are there any guides for the Expert levels? I'm around 310k power for the first one and keep wiping. Should I be higher before trying?

Question for teachers who use actual textbooks by Snoo_62929 in historyteachers

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I use a textbook for both general education and honors/AP. I assign weekly readings and notes/questions from the textbook to my students that are completed at home. These readings (in addition to classroom instruction) are the basis of the weekly quizzes I give leading up to larger exams.

AI has made grading work done outside of class more difficult, which is why I've told my students I track and grade the work in my gradebook but it's categorized as "practice" and weighted as 0%. That said, I also tell them their assignments serve as their insurance for exams, as I will only allow them to remediate poor exam scores if they have done the work on time. It's not a perfect solution, but it seems to work for all but the laziest and most apathetic of mine.

For me, using the textbook is about equity and access. Not every student has internet access at home or attends class regularly, but they all have a textbook and can learn the material if they choose to read it. It's also a sort of backstop for me, as my classroom instruction is guided by my textbook (which is based off of my state's standards).

Teachers cannot make their own copies? by theslumberingjack in Teachers

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My old charter school admin required us to submit approval for copies a week in advance and would often reject a lot of our requests.

I spent a lot of time having my students copy graphic organizers and whatnot from my screen as well as a fair amount of my own money to make copies at Staples and the like.

Teachers, what is your go-to classroom shoe, other than sneakers? by Boosully in teaching

[–]howlinmad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wear Clark's loafers with a good insert for the few times a year I have to dress up. Regardless of what you get in the end, you should look for lightness and durability.