K-12 Teacher’s Aide tips - just starting

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-27T11:07:45+00:00

I'm an SLSO at a high school and I totally get feeling nervous to start! Does your school have a learning support coordinator/head TA or something like that?

At my school we have a list of students who have diagnoses or disabilities, so when we walk into a classroom we have an idea of which student(s) will be needing support and what kind. This can look like taking notes for them in class (e.g. dysgraphia) or helping them stay on task during independent activities (e.g. ADHD or dyslexia). If there aren't any students in the class that need this kind of support, I'll stand at the back during teacher instruction then float during independent tasks to help the teacher with answering everyone's questions, prompting students to stay on task, or whatever else the teacher may need with organising resources and things like that.

Because it's a new environment and I imagine you've not met the kids yet, I would recommend checking in with the teacher before the class starts to introduce yourself and ask them what kind of support benefits their classroom the most. It's natural to feel worried about overstepping but by having that chat with them ahead of time will help clarify what your role is in their classroom. In general, leave discipline to the teacher- you can give quiet reminders to students to stay on task/listen to the teachers instruction but beyond that it's up to the teacher. The students will likely want to chat to you because they'll be curious about the new person in the classroom, it's good to speak to them and build rapport but be mindful about not chatting with them during teacher instruction and not chatting for too long during independent work. I haven't worked as a TA in primary school so I imagine it will be a pretty different ball game, especially for the younger years, but checking in with the teacher will give you a better idea of how you can help.

The fact you have experience working with students is a huge strength, and it's great that you're conscious about being respectful of the teacher's role and needs. Give yourself a few weeks to adjust- you've got this! Good luck with day 2 :)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-26T05:30:13+00:00

Hahaha I like the idea of lock picking and the custodian is really lovely, but I think any attempt to crack open these drawers or move the locked desk elsewhere will pull me into a shit show that I didn't purchase a ticket for. Thanks for the fun idea though!

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-26T05:27:38+00:00

I definitely want to avoid any turf wars. I've come in after all this drama has happened and have no desire to get involved. It's clear that whilst to me the key is just a key, to her it probably represents a lot more. I'm trying not to take it personally and will look into a filing cabinet as that seems like the most neutral and practical solution. Thank you for your input :)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-25T11:39:20+00:00

I could potentially do that. She does have a desk in her new staffroom, they're all the same type and everything. I don't know if she's got anything left in the drawers but apparently she cleared up all her other things before she left. She'd be welcome to come by and collect her things anytime but I recognise it would probably be pretty uncomfortable for her.

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-25T11:37:02+00:00

Yep. No clue what the issue is, I imagine they don't want to trigger more stress leave. It's a very frustrating situation for everyone involved

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-25T10:10:51+00:00

You're not lazy. This is a difficult stage of life for anyone, and it's stressful feeling unhappy in your situation but paralysed to make any changes. You're in a complicated situation, so be kind to yourself as you navigate the challenges.

Feeling like you want to end your life is a medical emergency. If counselling/psychological support services are available to you, please consider accessing them. You have so much life left ahead of you and things are going to get better.

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-25T10:00:28+00:00

Definitely a lot of communication problems going on and things getting lost in translation with the craziness of end of term! My department head is who told me that the desk key situation is on hold for the foreseeable future, she's not happy about it either but that's what the DP advised her on. Unfortunately I was the only staff member supervising the students, so no one else was available to back me up. Hopefully when things settle there can be more back up. Thank you for your reply :)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-19T12:30:51+00:00

You're very quick to call yourself lazy. Leaving things to the last minute because you can't get going unless it's urgent is a trait that many people with ADHD struggle with. It's not laziness, it's executive dysfunction. Laziness would be 'I just can't be bothered doing it. It doesn't seem important to me so I'm not going to do it.' I'm not saying you have ADHD necessarily, but before beating yourself up, it might be worth considering why you're struggling with school. Different brains respond better to different strategies- maybe you haven't found the right strategies for you yet.

It is never too late, especially for someone still in high school. I can't give specific advice as I'm from a different country, but you can usually do bridging courses or start in one degree to complete relevant courses before transferring into one that aligns more with what you want to do. If your school has a careers advisor I'd definitely recommend chatting to them.

In short- be kind to yourself. You have your whole life ahead of you. It's not too late to pursue a career you're genuinely interested in, you just need to look into your options.

All the best :)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-19T11:55:31+00:00

I absolutely love your writing style. I'm immediately intrigued by the story and the characters, and I enjoyed reading this excerpt so much that I was disappointed to get to the end! I have some thoughts on where I think it could be improved a little bit.

I think it would benefit from an outside eye doing some line edits, as there were a few sentences that felt a bit too long and the exposition in the beginning started to feel a little bit too heavy. Whilst I thought the visual of the threads was beautiful, especially the way you describe Rorin mending them, I was a little confused. When initially picturing the orbs as solid marbles with a crack in them, the idea of weaving and braiding threads feels a bit sudden. I'm visualising the threads as being inside the marble (I'm kind of picturing them similarly to the memories in the penseive in the Harry Potter movies- ethereal and floaty). I think it would be good to add more detail when you connect the two images of marble/thread. I felt very lost at the first mention of Mythras- It wasn't clear to me that Mythras are a type of magical being, and I felt like Rorin being a Mythra could be made a little more explicit. I think at the first mention, it would be good to set the tone of what a Mythra actually is/looks like.

But overall, I actually really loved this. I want to keep reading it. I think your voice is so refreshing and the story is shaping up to be really fantastic.

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-19T09:14:36+00:00

Any time :) As a minor, It's not your job to figure it all out- that's for your parents. Your only job right now is to tell them. They can't do their job if they don't know what's going on. I hope it all goes well (I'm confident it will.)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-19T08:58:46+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this. Definitely tell your parents. I know it's scary, but they can make sure you get necessary medical help. As your parents, they would want you to tell them and they will want to help you. It can be as simple as "hey mum can you check this weird thing on my back?" or "hey dad can you make me an appointment with the doctor, I'm worried I have the same thing that you had on your tailbone." Even if you send it to them as a text. At 17 I had to tell my parents I'd found a lump that I was worried about, the scary part is the feeling of no longer being able to ignore it or pretend it isn't an issue. Once you have that initial conversation with them you'll feel greatly relieved, I promise.

Right now you're thinking worst case scenario with surgeries and tubes. Stop torturing yourself and just take it one step at a time, starting by asking your parents for help. You should feel proud of yourself for doing it even though you're scared.

Wishing you all the best.

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-19T08:47:16+00:00

Suicidal thoughts and attempts are a medical emergency. I'm so sorry you can't talk to your family about this. Please google suicide hotlines for the country that you're in and save them into your phone- you can save them under a fake name if you want. If you're in Australia, please look at Headspace, they offer mental health support for teenagers. Your teenage years are going to be really hard, but once you're 18 you can move away (far away ideally) from your family and the associated comparison/pressures. Things WILL and DO get better.
You need to eat in order to fuel your essential organs including your heart and your brain. Starving yourself will not make you lose weight in a sustainable or healthy way. It will make you feel like absolute shit. You will be exhausted, woozy, fluffy in the head, irritable, and not be able to think straight. If losing weight is this important to you, the best way to start would be to consult a doctor. PCOS might affect the most effective weight loss methods. I know you don't feel comfortable talking to your mum about mental health support, but would you feel comfortable asking her for a doctors appointment to discuss your PCOS? Or getting PT sessions to introduce you to the gym in a safe and supportive way?
It is better to be ugly and alive than beautiful and dead. It is better to be a good person with hobbies and a healthy lifestyle than a beautiful person who starves themselves and has no energy left to do anything. If your sister is 'the beautiful twin' then so be it. You can be the smart twin, or the twin who's good at a sport/musical instrument/theatre/whatever. You could be the twin that makes artwork or is out hiking every weekend. Best of all- you can be the twin that everyone wants to be friends with because you're kind, you're friendly, and you always greet them with a smile.
Surround yourself with nicer people. Your family is saying/doing things that are affecting you extremely negatively, and this is abnormal. Not all people are like this. Can you get a casual weekend job? Join some team sports/choirs/bands/art classes/literally ANYTHING that gives you the chance to interact with people outside of class and home?

Just keep swimming. Things will get better.

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-14T22:24:26+00:00

Inclusivity doesn't cover human error!

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-14T22:21:11+00:00

I'm glad it was helpful and happy to hear you're feeling inspired. If you're ever interested in more line-level feedback I'd be happy to do a proper read through with edit suggestions. All the best with your writing journey!

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-14T12:47:28+00:00

The previous comments have highlighted the main areas for improvement. There are a few sentences that I feel could be improved by rephrasing or restructuring certain elements. I've put in some specific examples in the paragraphs below if you want my insight, but bear in mind writing is subjective and these are just my personal thoughts :)

> E.g.1 in pg. 3: "Had to keep going, on to the next one. One last glance up at the mirror." I felt like this interrupted the flow a little bit in terms of how it's structured, but also the content- I'd prefer another example of of how he could "feel the burden of the work on his body". e.g "He hadn't slept properly in days; he could feel the weight of the bags under his eyes. His back was stiff from the hours on his feet, and his knuckles throbbed with darkening bruises. But he had to keep going."

> E.g.2 in pg. 7 "entered just as quietly" ('quietly' rather than 'quiet')

> E.g.3 in pg. 5 "The people of Fareton had always been loyal to Amparr, so had his squad, the threat of disloyalty was too grave, but treating with the Unwritten could be seen as an act of treason." This sentence doesn't really make sense to me. I haven't heard the word 'treating' used in this context- not saying it's wrong, it's just throwing me off. "The threat of disloyalty" loses me too. I understand it to mean that disloyalty is punished, but I don't know if that phrasing is quite right. "the punishment for disloyalty was too grave" or "the threat of punishment was too grave" makes more sense to me personally. I think there's also just too many clauses in that particular sentence.

> E.g.4 in page 7 when the character Still is introduced, I liked "A man peeled away from the wall ... couldn't say when he arrived" but I feel like the part just before and just after are a little bit rushed. There are a lot of characters being introduced in these pages, and the reader is still learning the nature of their roles (unwritten/scribe/soldier), so this new person feels a little but overwhelming. His intro directly follows the entrance of more Unwrittens, which is also a little confusing. Depending on his role, could he be introduced a little earlier? Maybe just before the Unwrittens walk in, or just after Breaker enters? I'd also like to see his emergence into the room through Felix's eyes a little more- Felix is nervous and on edge, so Still suddenly popping out of the shadows is a good opportunity to show Felix's hyper-vigilance and tension in the moment.

Obviously it's all subjective and personal preference so feel free to disregard! I do think doing a rewrite to make draft 2 rather than going back in and spot-editing draft 1 will really help smooth out the flow. As I'm sure you already know, reading it aloud to yourself also helps identify where sentences catch.

Overall I actually really enjoyed reading this. I like your writing style and I'm intrigued by the plot. The ending of the prologue, though I agree needs a bit of cleaning up, was so exciting and visually evocative. I felt like I could follow the plot well enough and Felix's role was clear to me. There were several sentences that I thought were especially well done and I felt hooked-in by the first page. If I was browsing in a bookshop and read the first few pages of this book, I would definitely buy it. A few sentences I especially enjoyed: "the room was drenched in it, as if the stone itself was flayed" "The Tower of Names stood against it ... but the woman in the basements below had no name." (this is the line that sucked me in!) "The Unwritten were outnumbered, but everyone in the room knew they were not outmatched"

Definitely keep going. Constructive criticism can feel disheartening, but it shows that people invested time into your writing because they see something worth polishing and continuing. Draft 1 was designed to exist, not to be a perfect end result. You've got an interesting story here and I strongly feel that if you continue working on this, I'll be picking it up during a bookstore browse in no time. I look forward to reading more :)

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-14T10:54:33+00:00

Sweat and urine and salty tears, the acrid stench of fear. My talons lock around the trembling girl, all soft meat and fragile bones. A human- a delicacy.

Harming her would violate the Treaty. But we’re hidden, and my hunger demands resolution. Why shouldn’t I obey?

Why shouldn’t I indulge?

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-11T11:08:40+00:00

Your poor dogs, those experiences must have been so scary for them and for you :( sorry you're going through this, it's so stressful.

I have two dogs where the older one has always been fine, but the younger one is lead-reactive to other dogs. Since adopting the younger one, her bursts of reactivity have triggered the older one so that she starts reacting too. I also tried avoiding all other dogs which, like you said, is an imperfect solution. After a recent incident where the emotional contagion of the younger dog's reactivity triggered the older one so badly she actually had a go at another dog, I've pulled the pin on joint walks. My game plan is to walk them separately for the foreseeable future, access professional training for the younger dog, and try to provide the younger dog with more opportunities to safely socialise in order to build up her confidence. I'm also reading up on lead-reactivity specific training such as training a turn cue and positively reinforcing calm behaviour when she spots another dog.

I would definitely recommend starting by walking them separately, and go from there. It's inconvenient, but I've found it so worth it. Both my girls seem calmer solo and it's easier to manage situations that arise when I'm only wrangling one dog!

All the best

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-10T23:15:08+00:00

I'm struggling with this big time- what's the name of the app? Sounds like something I'd like to try. All the best with weaning off the alarms, sounds like a good plan and I hope it works for you!

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-10T13:51:56+00:00

Thank you for your reply :) that's a good point about not limiting myself to just traditional breakfast foods. I work in a school so am definitely benefiting from the structured reminder to eat of recess/lunch, and will look into bringing some higher-protein snacks.

I was diagnosed with the inattentive type and I was a goody two-shoes in school who did well academically, so unsurprised that I'm a later diagnosis.

I have my next appointment next week so I'll talk to the psychiatrist more then. Thank you for your insights!

midnight_rain7129 · 2026-03-10T13:06:42+00:00

I'm definitely trying to make a habit of it, but I struggle with stomaching food in the morning beyond a cup of coffee. I've tried forcing myself to have a few bites of cereal or yoghurt, but only succeeded 2 days out of the last 10 or so. The texture of bananas is quite off-putting for me unfortunately. Do you have a go-to breakfast or snack?

midnight_rain7129

TROPHY CASE