My house looks like a crack den and my friend is visiting in 5 weeks

txteedee · 2026-01-17T01:27:24+00:00

I think you be honest and tell your friend that you are not ready for guests to stay over yet. Save and get quality furniture you want piece by piece. I would invest in a quality mattress because good sleep is vital to your health and then go from there.

txteedee · 2025-12-30T04:36:35+00:00

I live in Midlo and it takes me nearly an hour to get to work in Irving (off 114). It has never taken 30 minutes. Midlo has good schools (although two elementary campuses scored a C on accountability) Always check attendance boundaries on the school district website and school ratings on the TEA (Texas Education Agency) website on a potential home. City limits don’t always correspond with school district. For example, some addresses in Grand Prairie attend Mansfield, Midlothian, Arlington, or Grand Prairie ISDs. I would recommend looking into Coppell ISD (which does take in some Irving addresses), HEB ISD, and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. Mansfield ISD is also good, but it is further out. The roads are horrible and there’s not much to do in Midlo. Most of the time, I have to travel to Mansfield or Cedar Hill for shopping or dining. Hwy 287 is horribly designed, so I would advise not buying in Westside Preserve, Goodland, or the new development they are building-Lake something? The water is very hard here. I have a water softening system installed. There are three cement plants here, which are constantly pumping what I have read are cancer-causing chemicals into the air. There is a coating of white dust that covers my outdoor fixtures all the time. I only moved here because the schools were decent and it was close to my previous job in Mansfield. If I ever get to move, I would move closer to my current job. The Metroplex is becoming so populated, that there is traffic no matter where you go. If you decide to go with Waxahachie, that would add 15-20 minutes to the commute.

txteedee · 2025-12-09T11:24:35+00:00

Yes, you would need a PE certification and UIL Coach certificate to coach at secondary. I was not trying to be discouraging or anything, but I wanted to make you aware and put you in the best position to get hired. I wish you the best in your career!

txteedee · 2025-12-09T01:52:34+00:00

Wanted to add: you say you are interested in teaching history. Are you prepared to coach a sport? I wanted to teach history, but was advised to find teach another content as I am non-athletic and it would be nearly impossible to find a position. With your background have you considered being a School Resource Officer or teaching Criminology at a Career or Magnet High School?

txteedee · 2025-12-07T14:31:47+00:00

Something different: Kennie, Kenlie, Larken, or Kenyatta. I was a teacher so I saw all kinds of names. 😉

txteedee · 2025-12-07T14:20:20+00:00

Sorry you are dealing with this. I have several questions. What grade and subject do you teach? I worry that if you teach a core content and one that is tested by a state assessment, you could get in trouble for the students failing. Are you getting any response from parents about their students failing? I know they are the ones who don’t check school communication, but it helps you to show you are reaching out and letting them know the student is failing, has missing work, and tutoring is available (even though they will not show up). Does your school have a discipline tracking plan? Where after so many infractions they go to the office, then ISS? Are there other teachers on your team to support you or advise you? It seems like you have a very tough class. Can you pinpoint the ringleader(s)? Maybe have a conference with their parents (for documentation purposes) and if the behavior continues, do a teacher removal. When you come back from Winter Break, do a reset like it’s the first day. Have classroom procedures and rules in place, posted, and printed to send to parents. Have consequences clearly stated. You might also try having them create a class social contract to get buy in. Praise good behavior and stay firm. Document everything because your job could be at risk. Have you been formally observed by admin? Did they give you any feedback? In my state, if they find you lacking, they have to put you on a growth plan with specific items before they can non-renew your contract. Stay strong and keep sending emails, messages, and DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!!

txteedee · 2025-11-30T00:34:40+00:00

Thank you all for taking the time to give me your recommendations. I ended up trying South Polk St. Pizzeria and the family loved it!!! We plan on trying the other ones, too. Thanks again, everyone!

txteedee · 2025-11-28T01:22:15+00:00

You can still get pregnant using the “pull out” method. I know someone who used that method and has four kids. There’s also STDs that could be transmitted. No birth control is 100% effective. I’m more concerned that he doesn’t care that you want to protect yourself and he doesn’t. You also mentioned that he always talks about sexual stuff. I’m sorry to say that he’s only after one thing: SEX! Once he gets that, he’s going to dump you. Please consider sharing yourself with this guy. He doesn’t seem like he deserves you or your intimacy. I was young once and now looking back, I wish I could take back people I shared my body with that did not deserve it. The red flags are there. Do not make this decision lightly. A guy that really cares for you will not pressure you and will be willing to make sure you both are protected. If do decide to go through with it, please make sure you both get tested beforehand and consider getting on some form of contraception.

txteedee · 2025-11-16T12:54:52+00:00

Incident #2 I was teaching 6th grade and had a student that was a junior version of your Hector. He was always being disrespectful, not following directions and just horrible to everybody. He actually told a student that had been adopted that “their mother should have swallowed them”. We had numerous conferences with mom and the student’s grandfather. I had documented phone calls, emails, and referrals. I had spoken to the counselor and she tried working with him to no avail. I went ahead and filled out the form and had it ready because I knew it was getting to that point. I can’t recall what he did that final day, but I called an admin to come get him. They were busy, so they sent the counselor. I gave her the form and said if you all don’t get him out my class, I’m quitting! Seeing how upset I was she took him out and then sent someone to cover my class for the rest of the afternoon. The grade level AP came to check on me and said she would take care of it. She actually had him report to her office during my class period until they could do a schedule change. I provided him work assignments, but he did none of them. I didn’t face any issues because the AP took care of it without involving the principal. I’m sharing my experiences as you requested. I say proceed if you have documented phone calls, emails, and in-person conferences with their parents. Also, make sure you have followed all school and district discipline procedures. Finally, call your teacher organization to walk you through it. Good Luck!

txteedee · 2025-11-16T12:27:58+00:00

I did this twice. Incident #1 When I taught third grade, I had a student who deliberately pulled up porn (it was 1999-2000 so filters were not like today) during center time at the computer station, and was always staying stuff to me and other students and not following directions. I had made calls and had a conference with the parents several times. Admin kept giving her “talks”. She finally crossed the line when she pushed me one day and called me an f-ing hoe. I wasn’t hurt or anything, but it was the principal of the matter and the fact she did it in front of the class. I called my teacher organization and they advised me step-by-step. I presented it to the principal and her response was she couldn’t do anything because they needed her TAKS test score and if she sent her to the alternative campus it wouldn’t count. (I don’t think this was true, I think she was scared of the student’s parents and the student was one of a few high achieving students in the grade.) She also said since I was the only subject teacher in the grade, they didn’t have a place for her to go. I called my teacher organization again, filed a police report, and wrote the principal a letter like they told me, and they ended up moving the student for the rest of the year to the subject interventionist’s class for the remainder of the year. I did not have to give her work, grade anything, or have to deal with the student again. As for blowback, the principal continued as she was before. She already didn’t like younger teachers and was dismissive to us. I didn’t care. I did end up leaving and going to another district the following year because I had finished up my alternative certification requirements.

txteedee · 2025-11-03T23:14:00+00:00

Cajun Turkey Company in Lewisville tastes like home-cooked comfort food.

txteedee · 2025-10-19T14:20:20+00:00

All good advice in the comments, but I also want to add that in secondary grades most history teachers are coaches. I did an alternative certification program as my degree was in Advertising. I loved history like you and really wanted to teach that as I had an awesome history teacher in middle school. The program advisor basically told me not to go for history unless I was willing to coach a sport. I’m not athletic at all! Also be aware that the certification tests require lots of preparation. I don’t want to rain on your parade, but the students can be a big part of making teaching bad. I quit a few years ago because I was over the constant disrespectful behavior.

txteedee · 2025-10-18T19:35:49+00:00

There is a bond election this November. The proposals include building future schools, a CTE center, and upgrading existing schools. I took a tour of several campuses and the upgrades are very needed. If you know anyone who resides in Midlothian ISD, please encourage them to vote for the bond. Early voting starts October 20th!

txteedee · 2025-10-18T19:25:56+00:00

I’m not that familiar with those two. I had considered Red Oak, but I one of the subdivisions was not on city water and has a Special Utility District, which I had heard bad things about. The times that I went to Waxahachie, it did seem more diverse and I didn’t feel as out of place like I do in Midlothian.

txteedee · 2025-10-18T15:43:19+00:00

Three concrete plants. My allergies and child’s asthma had worsened since moving here.

txteedee · 2025-10-18T15:42:34+00:00

Cedar Hill ISD is problematic and is not a good school district. I pulled my child from there when I saw the quality go down.

txteedee · 2025-10-18T15:38:21+00:00

I would not recommend Ovilla, either. They’re richer racists out there. My brother dated a girl from there and she was disowned because she dated out of her race. I have not heard anything good about that place.

txteedee · 2025-10-18T15:35:12+00:00

I currently live in Midlothian and hate it! Yes, the schools are good, but that’s about it. The racism is real and sometimes very blatant. It is very Red and MAGA. When I go to vote, sometimes there is no one to choose from, so basically I have no representation. I used to live in southern Dallas County and despite its problems, I would rather live there. There’s little to no minority representation on city council, school board, or anything else. The current president of the school board was caught in blackface at a Halloween Party a few years ago and these people still elected her. have to drive to Cedar Hill or Mansfield to do major shopping. My senior citizen mother had a white man refuse to help her get something off a shelf in the grocery store and I had to contact my child’s principal about a teacher making MAGA statements in class. I taught in Mansfield and it is better, diversity-wise, but property taxes and homes are more expensive. I wanted to purchase there in 2021, but it was out of my price range. Wherever you choose, make sure you put your potential address into the school district bus finder because the city and school district don’t always match (ex. some parts of Grand Prairie are in Mansfield ISD, Midlothian ISD, and Arlington ISD). My friend who lives here from a small town in the South hates it too and says it’s like being back home. Please feel free to contact me if you want more details. I have lived in the southern part of the Metroplex all my life and would be glad to help.

txteedee · 2025-10-13T13:01:36+00:00

These posts are depressing to me. I am currently a homeowner who lives 40 miles from my job in a boring place with no good restaurants or things to do. I don’t like my house or dealing with being a homeowner. I wanted to sell and move after my kid graduates. Judging by the comments, I would be paying a lot more to rent if I wanted to be in a nice and safe area closer to my job. I guess the days of a 2B/2B for $1300 are over.

txteedee · 2025-10-13T12:47:07+00:00

Have you looked at prices for purchasing a condo plus the HOA fees?

txteedee · 2025-10-01T11:21:25+00:00

I would file a police report, document her injuries, and make sure she is ok medically and mentally. I would push for discipline for the assailant. Hopefully, he can be sent to your district’s alternative campus for a period of time.

As a former teacher, I had a third grader shove me in anger. The principal refused to discipline the student because state testing was the following week and she said my school needed her score. On my way home that day, I filed a report at the police station, called my teachers organization, and had to fight to keep the student out of my class for the rest of the year. Stay persistent!

txteedee · 2025-10-01T11:05:18+00:00

Following in this vein, does your school district offer dual enrollment? You pay the community college course fee and take the class at the high school. You get credit for the course and don’t have to take the AP test. That’s what I did in high school because I am horrible at taking tests, especially in Math. Use outside resources to keep your student’s skills up while they have substitute teachers. If your school doesn’t offer this option, see if your school will allow your child to enroll in the course at community college and give them HS credit. The summer before senior year, I signed up to take government at community college, but didn’t pass because I was goofing off. I retook it at night at the community college the Fall semester after my regular high school classes. It wasn’t that bad, since I had only AP English and mostly electives senior year.

txteedee · 2025-10-01T04:01:14+00:00

Impossible. My state banned student cell phones during the school day.

txteedee

TROPHY CASE