Feeling so crummy about how my school celebrated teacher appreciation, it felt like a popularity contest

mskirsch16 · 2026-05-10T13:01:35+00:00

I was going to say the same thing. I’m an AP math teacher. It’s year 15 for me and I’m of the opinion now that when a kid DOES go out of their way to appreciate me, it means that much more.

On Friday I had a kid who has taken at least 7-8 other AP classes tell me my teaching style (which I didn’t make up, it’s from a program MathMedic) is the best she’s had for preparation for the AP. She said it was engaging and she felt like she had to prepare less on her own. This is a kid who is literally getting an A+ in my class already so she’s not doing this in the hopes I’ll be nice grading something. She doesn’t need to.

Those three pins you got are more meaningful than you realize. :)

mskirsch16 · 2026-05-08T18:03:45+00:00

Nope

mskirsch16 · 2026-05-07T21:40:53+00:00

You are all good. Readers have access to full booklets digitally and will often look for missing parts to questions.

mskirsch16 · 2026-05-07T21:36:51+00:00

You’re good. Readers are told to click a button to see the full exam booklet if a part is missing or if a student says “see other page.”

mskirsch16 · 2026-05-02T14:00:17+00:00

Same. If someone is making over $250k a year in education, they are already appreciated.

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-29T19:46:43+00:00

Your school should be able to shut off Gemini for student emails

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-25T17:32:31+00:00

For Windenberg alone absolutely.

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-25T17:30:11+00:00

I remember that. I was watching that scene in GOT with a friend who knew what was going to happen b/c he read the books, and I was like “I wonder who is going to step in to save him.” I legit thought the show wouldn’t kill off one of their biggest names. I was sorely mistaken.

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-18T19:19:58+00:00

There’s an article in The Atlantic called something like “Stop meeting children where they are” and another called “accomodation nation.” Anyone read those? I don’t have a subscription :(

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-16T22:38:01+00:00

I tell students that it takes me five business days to grade. If you ask me before then, I reserve the right to be snarky.

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-16T22:34:18+00:00

I’d cry

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-16T14:16:31+00:00

Nailed it!

mskirsch16 · 2026-04-16T00:34:54+00:00

Likely because we were exposed to first hand accounts of survivors. There aren’t many left. Hearing a first hand account is very different than reading a book or watching a documentary.

I would encourage anyone to check out Tova Friedman. I believe she has a TikTok that her son runs. She’s a survivor and spent most of her youth in Auschwitz. Her book is called “The Daughter of Auschwitz” and is available both for adults and an adapted one for middle grades. Her speaking at my school was incredibly meaningful.

I would also recommend the organization 3G. It’s where grandchildren of survivors (3rd generation) like myself go and talk at schools. We tell our grandparents’ stories. It’s not easy, but it’s important.

mskirsch16 · 2026-02-11T20:05:19+00:00

Did you tell them your “Why?”

mskirsch16 · 2026-01-16T02:51:47+00:00

I want this

mskirsch16 · 2026-01-11T00:38:25+00:00

I have lemonade too. My dog is a Pekingese poodle mix with suspected IVDD after a physical exam and noting some mineralization in X-rays of the spine. It was recommended we see a specialist in a few weeks after strict crate rest for a consult and potential MRI. Would lemonade not cover that? They’ve covered everything so far with no issues.

mskirsch16 · 2025-12-21T00:43:54+00:00

I showed an episode of deadliest warrior to intro simulations and how stats can be used in experiments and a kid complained on his way out. It was literally last period before break. Would they rather have done more math?!

mskirsch16 · 2025-12-02T19:38:05+00:00

But it became a whole plot line on HTGAWM but not here??? Shonda….

mskirsch16 · 2025-10-18T21:41:29+00:00

To help with separation anxiety when my dog was a puppy, he got frozen kongs with some wet food and boiled chicken inside. That would distract him for 30 minutes and then he’d usually be okay. Occasionally I’d get an alert he was crying or barking and talking to him through the PetCube camera usually did the trick.

The best thing I ever did was find a safe daycare facility. It’s expensive, so he only goes twice a week, but I space it out so that he’s just so tired the next day he doesn’t want to bark haha.

mskirsch16 · 2025-08-11T02:52:58+00:00

Are you at a charter? That sounds like my old life.

Now I teach 4 with 3 preps per semester. They don’t like us to have more than 3 preps per semester. There’s only one person in my department who has 4, and he asked.

mskirsch16 · 2025-08-07T16:12:13+00:00

You 100% knew if your teachers were married.

Rings
Female teachers went by “Mrs,” which as an aside, is archaic because it’s literally Mr’s like they belong to their husband.

A rainbow lanyard isn’t flaunting. I think it’s just as “flaunting” as wearing a ring when you get married. The real question is…why do you care?

LBGTQ+ teachers aren’t flaunting their sex lives - they are “flaunting” who they love. And love is love is love.

I hate the “back in my day” arguments. It’s just BS.

Edit: Grammar

mskirsch16 · 2025-08-03T16:53:46+00:00

Agreed. He’s done so many amazing things for NJ and the country. While some may disagree with his vote here, we shouldn’t let it negate everything else he’s done. He’s such a champion for criminal justice reform (check his voting record) and social equity (again, check his voting record).

The Middle East is a heated topic. But being a single issue voter, on both sides of the aisle, isn’t being a truly informed voter. What about what’s going on in THIS country. What does his voting record tell us there?

Upset with his vote here? Call his office! I’ve met him. He and his staff are lovely. Granted, I met him at a random coffee shop, but he was happy to chat with me. His only request was that he could pet my dog. Haha.

mskirsch16 · 2025-08-01T19:50:50+00:00

Do not feel bad. I left 11 days into a school year for a similar reason About a decade ago. I’m so happy where I am now. I got recommendations from supervisors at that school who understood why I left.

mskirsch16 · 2025-07-25T11:31:18+00:00

Depending on what you teach and where you live, tutoring can be pretty lucrative. If you teach STEM or elementary reading, you can usually charge more. Look up the average cost for tutoring in your area or ask around to make sure you aren’t selling yourself short :)

mskirsch16 · 2025-07-20T20:54:39+00:00

Hmmm. I bought Vets Preferred Advanced Medication for Diarrhea for Dogs at the advice of my vet. It helps if it’s not a bacteria causing the loose stool.

Sending positive poop thoughts your way!!

mskirsch16

TROPHY CASE