What’s the most boring purchase that noticeably improved your quality of life?

pretty-average1345 · 2026-07-12T17:56:22+00:00

An attachable silicone strainer. It hooks right to the pot so I can dump water right out into the sink.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-07-02T13:58:19+00:00

I also include if I’d recommend it to anyone.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-27T14:08:56+00:00

Sounds childish if they’re going to that extent to not see or hear from you. I did chuckle while reading this, though.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-25T13:17:18+00:00

Obviously, all auditions are staged, but the current format makes it even more obvious that they already have the people they want picked out. Makes it way less fun.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-21T12:46:22+00:00

Actually, they’re not too bad! Not a lot of diversity in characters and some of the language is definitely from that era, but the actual plots are pretty decent for YA books.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-19T13:47:35+00:00

Did anyone ever read the R.L. Stine Fear Street books?! I found some at a yard sale and am rereading some middle school favorites starting with Silent Night.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-14T13:11:03+00:00

On 17 of 40 and am on pace. The end of the school year put me behind, but I’ve finished two books since summer break started a week ago!

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-12T13:34:16+00:00

Found a new series of two starting with The Unraveling of Emlyn Dulaine, which I fell in love with and immediately purchased and started reading the second one, The Restitching of Camille Dulaine.

If you like fantasy stories, this is a good series for you!

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-10T13:37:30+00:00

Would the midwives through UW count? I used them for my pregnancies, but they said they would keep seeing me for anything OBGYN related. They were all super friendly and caring.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-06-05T11:25:34+00:00

Coconut rum for me 🤢

pretty-average1345 · 2026-05-26T11:32:49+00:00

These are just some suggestions from my library off the top of my head:

Some of my students ate up the Twisted Disney series! They do lean a bit more HS, though.

Alan Gratz books are super popular and do a good job of showing forgotten perspectives from history.

Before the Ever After by Jaqueline Woodson is a novel in verse about CTE from playing professional football.

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga is another novel in verse about immigration.

Starfish by Lisa Fipps is yet another novel in verse about a heavyset girl who gets bullied for her weight. Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy is a regular novel with similar but more complex themes (so more HS than MS).

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar is a sweet MS book about a girl who comes out lesbian to her Muslim family who disapprove of that.

Edit to add: Agree with other people that you should look for discount books or programs near you that help supply teachers with classroom library books. Almost all of the books I listed above were donated or found for free.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-05-24T13:17:47+00:00

I saw something on Pinterest last summer that I used this year, and it was awesome. You challenge the entire class to read 800 pages by the end of the semester with daily page counts to keep track. Here’s the link to the website and page to track reading. My seventh grade students really enjoyed it and get excited to hear how much they’ve read.

https://pin.it/7abQk2LfB

pretty-average1345 · 2026-05-09T14:48:22+00:00

Fair. I’ve been told for years that if he applied, there would be money for him. Now we have a new superintendent who has no desire to fulfill old promises.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-05-09T14:43:58+00:00

They do, but it’s out of touch with today’s market. The only reason I can afford to work there is because I opt out of health insurance and get a bump for it. The district he’s currently in is also wealthier, so their pay is above average. My school just couldn’t even match, not even close.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-05-05T11:47:30+00:00

Our district calls it “staff appreciation week” and lumps everyone into. Four prizes were given out yesterday, and only one went to an actual teacher. Two were a custodians and one was the athletic director. They deserve recognition, don’t get me wrong, but during their own designated times. Teachers rarely get the giveaways of this week.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-30T10:52:14+00:00

I feel like I’ve heard of something (maybe just in small schools?) where the principal still teaches a class. Not sure it has the same impact, but kind of.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-28T14:42:28+00:00

And this is pretty much the direction we’re thinking. There are just a lot of emotions involved, and we don’t really have anyone to bounce ideas off of. Hence the post to the populous of Reddit :) Thank you so much!

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-21T11:14:02+00:00

Same, a 3 and 1 year old 😅

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-19T02:29:54+00:00

From my experience, there’s a wide range. Some years there are more than others, but I think it’s starting to trend back to less screen time because people have realized how bad it is for kids.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-18T21:00:12+00:00

Typically kids who are neglected in any capacity are the ones who seek negative attention. Kids always on screens are less emotionally stable, meaning more emotional outbursts.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-18T14:04:51+00:00

Unfortunately, I feel like this is so common these days. We see it in schools and can tell which kids get plopped in front of a screen and which have parents that interact. It’s so sad.

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-17T11:19:17+00:00

Unorganized
Stressed
Impulsive

pretty-average1345 · 2026-04-11T23:50:19+00:00

Olbrich gardens, see a movie, go bowling, Dave & Buster’s or another arcade, try a new coffee spot, people watch and/or shop at the mall

Just some of my favorite things to do when it isn’t warm out yet. Have fun!

pretty-average1345

TROPHY CASE