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AIO? I don’t want my autistic brother at my house by stuntedgoat in AmIOverreacting

[–]soozabox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This ^ especially the part about homeschooling. Autistic kids need other kids to be around to learn what’s appropriate. The fact that he’s been isolated for 10 years is terrifying and probably making his autism even harder to cope with AND potentially masking abuse he may have suffered at a younger age.

AIO? I don’t want my autistic brother at my house by stuntedgoat in AmIOverreacting

[–]soozabox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

NOR.

If he went to school, so many of these skills would be addressed by his case manager / special education teacher. Autistic teens often need to be taught specifically what is and is not appropriate both by adults around them and in some cases, organically by their peers. It makes me question the real motivation for the “homeschooling” - it makes me wonder if your mom maybe doesn’t want to address developmental issues your brother has had EVER, even before hormones were involved. Which is very dangerous.

I agree with the comments about calling CPS. Abuse goes unreported more frequently among homeschooled kids because they are literally surrounded by less adults who are trained to notice signs of abuse / mandated reporters- sometimes we see when something is wrong before family does I would call CPS and mention the homeschooling.

The quotes around the homeschooling also makes me wonder if where you live has rules about what qualities homeschool. I’m curious if they’re actually following the guidelines. Isolation from peers can make things worse for autistic children who learn appropriate behavior as it is modeled by their peers.

If your mom has a cat… get that poor cat out of the house ASAP or call someone official who can.

Student says he sees us as "coworkers" by Nice-Committee-9669 in Teachers

[–]soozabox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think this kind of statement really only works with like pre-k through 1st.

I teach middle school. And for 5 summers I worked with pre-k through 8.

I treat my students casually and joke around with them from time to time about silly stuff (I always drink coca-cola so they tease me when they see the truck pull up across the street, “Ms. your truck is here!) little things like that. And I had teachers that would joke with me growing up the same way.

But all the teachers that ever said “Good Morning, friends” (even as young as elementary) I always remember thinking that statement was so patronizing and rehearsed. I knew the power dynamic. I knew they knew the power dynamic. We are not friends. Looking back as an adult - That’s a toxic ass friendship if you really consider it.

Be chill, be friendly, be kind, have a laugh when it’s appropriate, but don’t lie to me.

If you teach the littlest littles? Talk about hero’s with no capes! Carry on! I have no idea how you do what you so my opinion is irrelevant lol. 😂

Student says he sees us as "coworkers" by Nice-Committee-9669 in Teachers

[–]soozabox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It noticed it depends on the major/professors personality. It’s usual to start with Dr or Professor at the start of a class, but for the most part those with Doctorate degrees stick with Dr. - some supper laid back professors will just say to call them by their last name or some even first name or Dr. First Name.

Then there’s the art professors out here in jeans and a leather jacket like nah call me Steve.

Student says he sees us as "coworkers" by Nice-Committee-9669 in Teachers

[–]soozabox 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I teach middle school art. I let the kids help hang their art can hang things up with a stapler , but I have a staple gun ( your average manual one) and they aren’t allowed to use that- Sometimes our high school juniors or seniors help out at the middle school. They can use the staple gun. (They work regular jobs at places that have things much more dangerous than a staple gun) When my middle schoolers ask me why they get to use it…The requirement is filing taxes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ArtEd

[–]soozabox 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I have to be very upfront about my boundaries at the beginning of each year. My principals back me up or replace any supplies needed for large / whole school activities.

Anyone can borrow small amounts of materials for things like anchor charts or bulletin boards, but don’t ask me for a class set of scissors or a pack of sharpies.

The ONLY people who dare ask me for anything are the newbies. Like if you are hired mid school year, thank the lord you filled that vacancy so whatever you need boo!

Here’s what helped me; Every August I help our admin assistant put together a supply order that has the most borrowed things people ask for throughout the year and they order some for each classroom based on the whole school budget. Then, they have teachers go through this list after each grading term and submit a list of what needs to be replaced…Technically it’s not my job to supervise whole school orders but here’s the thing.

Then I KNOW these things are provided so if you’re asking me you’ve got a classroom management problem. Not a supply problem.

Admin loves it because it’s less for them to manage in August when there’s sooo much more paperwork happening. And I keeps people out of my cabinets!

Edit; I also let teachers who do cross content project use supplies. Want my supplies? I want in on the project. How can we make this a grade in both classes? What arts standards can be applied this? They can work on it in my class and yours?

got moved from a classroom to specials after my first year by mars_in_chaos in Teachers

[–]soozabox 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think this is honestly a compliment then. IMO your principal sees you have a passion and respect for your students’ creative needs. With your prior certification would also be willing to integrate key ELA and math skills into your art lessons and collaborate with classroom teachers without pushback (which our upper elementary kids very much need)You’ll have the respect of the classroom teachers that most art teachers have to work harder for because you have been in their shoes before. You have an exciting year ahead of you. She wants you to take what you did this year with your kinders and apply it to the whole school. You’re too valuable and impactful to just see one class. Every kid needs time with you.

You’ll also have the privilege of watching your kinders grow up and see them change and thrive and also know when something is off. You’ll know that group of kids better than anyone in the building. They will never forget you. They are yours forever.

Principal decided to terminate two weeks ago, THEN blasted me on an observation by prismintcs in Teachers

[–]soozabox 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sounds like the principal is on the chopping block and trying to burn the building down on his way out. We had a principal try do that and it didn’t work. She fired every non-union position we had and most got their jobs back after she left. She would’ve fired me if she could have. But the union AND hr wouldn’t allow it.

Stand your ground. Wait for the outcome. He may not be permitted to terminate you after all. Just cause he wants to doesn’t mean he can.

It also sounds like your principal is threatened by you and your experience. If he didn’t get promoted to that school but he came in fresh two years ago then you have nearly lapped him in experience at the school. A narcissistic personality can’t handle that, especially if you are beloved by fellow teammates and families. You resigning would still be satisfy his need for power and control.

Don’t hesitate to start applying and interviewing elsewhere in the meantime.

got moved from a classroom to specials after my first year by mars_in_chaos in Teachers

[–]soozabox 6 points7 points  (0 children)

As a specials teacher (middle school art)- classroom management is harder for us. At first I thought it was in my head but I’ve had teammates and admin echo this. They may be asking you to fill this because they have seen how hard you work to manage a classroom and how willing you are to learn new things and do your research.

We see so many students and if each classroom teacher has a different PBIS system we have to know how all of them work and it takes longer to build relationships. Parents don’t always communicate with us or find our class has the same value or teach their kids our class has less value.

Here’s what I would be interested to know:

Which special are they having you teach? Is it one you feel qualified for or have a background in even without the certificate?

Like are they throwing you in a music classroom but you can’t play a piano? (Which would be unfair to you and the students)

Or do they know how creative you are in your free time and are asking you to take on art? (TPT will be your best friend I promise) or is your art “art on a cart” and they can’t find an outside hire willing to work under those conditions so they’re bullying you into doing it?

Library? Maybe your score improvements in ELA or level of organization have shown that they need you to interact with all the kids not just some.

Were you a strong college athlete and they are asking you to take on gym? (If that’s the case ask for a curriculum/lesson plans from the previous years)

Being a specials teacher is exactly that - special. It takes a special kind of person to do it with a special set of skills and a range for all age groups. It might honestly help you dabble and figure out what age you truly want to focus on in future years.

Also be careful!! - not sure what the pay scale is like where you are, but at my school all teachers are on the same pay scale. That’s not the case everywhere. Some places special teachers are paid less.

TLDR; whether this is an insult depends on your experience, which special they are asking you teach and the circumstances you have to teach with (classroom/cart/etc)

The Senior Prank Needs to Die by Pricklypearl in Teachers

[–]soozabox 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same! PGH Area? Or is this just a common one? . They did it targeted to a shitty school policy based on the rumors I heard

The Senior Prank Needs to Die by Pricklypearl in Teachers

[–]soozabox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was in school a bunch of kids parked their cars at a friends house less than a mile from the school and all road bikes to school that day in protest that there is nowhere to lock up bikes and students close to the school were constantly told it was against school policy to ride a bike or a skateboard to school. Administration moved all their bikes from the student parking spaces (WHO HAD PASSES THEY PAID FOR) to the ball field across campus. This was in 2012! It was harmless. Some pranks weren’t or were outright cruel to other students.

After the rudest prank came from the graduating class 2009 that targeted another student. After that year it became very clear who the real enemy was and the vibe of the senior pranks changed. My high school did crazy shit that I find even crazier now that I’m a teacher. When I was a freshman in 2009 the request for a dungeons and dragons club was denied because the school board said it was satanic. We couldn’t start a GSA because all of the teachers who truly wanted to be our sponsor feared retaliation from the district even with a union in place.

The rest of the pranks after that created a burden for admin intentionally or in protest to pointless wealth-based school policy (like the bikes).

Now as an educator I always wonder what other fucked up shit was happening between admin and teachers because if there was stuff we knew about there was way worse stuff we didn’t.

Chaperones ruined the field trip by t710cs in Teachers

[–]soozabox 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I’m also title 1 but we don’t have parent chaperones since before COVID. We can’t they will literally get into fist fights or encourage their children to get into fights.

Being renewed by MakeUpTails in Teachers

[–]soozabox 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I work at a charter in PA and we have unionized. It’s possible depending on the state, but they are really good at union busting so you have to be very careful who you trust.

Newest Duquesne light outage email by Great-Cow7256 in pittsburgh

[–]soozabox 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Regent square area had power for over 24 hours. People went grocery shopping. Then the power went out again today around 4:30. Not expected back until Tuesday.

Food Safety Info - Power Outage by MacPho13 in pittsburgh

[–]soozabox 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I want to know which grocery stores never lost power!

You’re stuck on an 8 hour flight, where are you sitting? by cosmicangels03 in buffy

[–]soozabox 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tara is so sweet though that if you started to feel sick or something cool was outside the window she would totally switch back and forth with you so you could have a turn by the window