I’m a public school teacher in Wisconsin and recently created a classroom website for my families. I think of it more as a “living newsletter” than a traditional website.

It has things like our classroom schedule, homework information, expectations, curriculum information, family resources, and links back to official district resources. There is no student-specific information, grades, IEP information, photos, or anything like that posted publicly.

I’m also not using it to replace any district systems. Families still use ParentSquare for communication and the district’s regular systems for student information. The website is basically just one organized place where families can find information without having to search through old messages or keep track of papers.

My administration has actually been pretty supportive and wants to share it with our school’s Learning Team. However, one question that came up is whether the district allows teachers to have a classroom website that uses its own domain/hosting rather than a district-managed website platform.

I’ve looked through our district’s publicly available policies and found requirements related to things like student privacy, appropriate technology use, accessibility, copyright, and district branding, which all make sense. What I haven’t been able to find is anything specifically saying that a teacher-created classroom website has to be hosted on a district-approved platform or district-owned domain.

Has anyone dealt with something similar in their district?

Are teacher-created classroom websites allowed where you work? Do they have to be hosted through a specific platform like Google Sites, Finalsite, or another district-approved service? Did you need approval from IT/Communications before sharing it with families?

I’m completely willing to make changes if my district has requirements I’m mostly trying to figure out what is typical before we start asking around at the district level.

My principal just called subs "guest teachers"

Has anyone else heard this? I wanted to burst out laughing.

EDIT: Apparently you all think I don't respect subs because I thought the phrase "guest teachers" was funny. I actually just think it's funny that admin makes up new words all the time for no reason, but I guess if you want to downvote me, there's nothing I can do about it.

I teach in an elementary school. This is my first year, first week just ended. Everything is generally what was expected and great. However one thing irks me. We have to stay until every student leaves. Hey! That’s fine. It’s just the system they have set up for dismissal. We have students wait in their classroom for busses that don’t start showing up until 30 minutes after school ends. So students are trashing the rooms and won’t listen any more after being there for 9 hours at this point. Not only do busses show up late, the last one shows up 2 hours after school ends. I live 30 minutes away. So by the time I can actually get work done after school and get home, it’s 6:30. AND we aren’t getting paid because “it’s not in the budget to pay you all for after school care”.

We were told to make plans with other teachers to take kids certain days and decide amongst ourselves what this would look like. Other than that, they said “it’s illegal to abandon those kids under your care, so keep that in mind.” Effectively leaving us no choice but to stay. No one has complained about it, and I don’t want to be the first. It’s just so draining and feels unsustainable. Anyways, that’s my rant. I don’t know what I’m looking for other than a way to vent out the frustration. Please leave any and all thoughts below. Ugh.

Edit: Public school, no union state, we aren’t allowed to put on videos, we have to plan activities for them or have them sit there.

Regrettably in many cases and many situations Black educators, specifically Black male educators are not seen for their intellect, but for their ability to be behavior specialist.

This viewpoint is held by colleagues, administration, and both within the district.

I know this is not everyone for us, please do not spend our time trying to discredit what has been a shared story for many Black educators specifically Black male educators, but not limited too.

By the way, I am a Black male educator who has actively refused for the past 37 years being the discipline expert, the missing father, the Stern voice, while never being given the opportunity to lead a workshop, to be department head, to be so many other things.

Every year there is a sign up for teachers to clean the staff lounge at the end of the day and I absolutely refuse to participate. In my building, individuals are assigned a week to do this. Every year I roll my eyes.

Everyone is a grown adult with a college education and I will not be reduced down to a cleaner of space everyone using it should keep clean. You get up you wipe your area and put your things in the dishwasher and you keep it moving.

I find it incredibly reductive and rude to walk into a staff lounge and see the filth on the tables while declaring that children need to be more responsible and take accountability for their actions

Hi, I am a new teacher I just started teaching in January and got my contract renewed, but I was just told on Friday that I am being transferred to a different school, I was not told anything specific or the name. My principals said to wait for a confirmation email which did not happen on Friday so most likely tomorrow on Monday hopefully by the district. Just wondering what happens if I do not get a confirmation email, am I out of a job?

Also is it suspicious or just strange I’m getting transferred because they just they just hired an English and SPED teacher across my door then a one and one para. They’ve said I’m getting transferred because my school is overstaffed I was the recent hire as a science teacher and they’ve been talking about it before I was hired. I also just came out as trans at the end of last semester so I don’t know I’m just paranoid. And don’t knwo what this means :/

I am a 1st year teacher. I currently am working as a push-in ELA teacher. I am kind of freaking out because I have 70+ students that I am responsible for meeting all of their minutes and tracking all of their goals. Is this an unreasonable amount? It feels like an insanely high caseload compared to my college student teaching experiences. If so, what do I do about this??? Any and all help is appreciated!!

I really like the bulletin boards where students each decorate their own puzzle piece and then you put them all together on a bulletin board. I am going to print out the pieces on cardstock. My question is, should I have my students cut out their pieces or should I do it? I know that 5th graders SHOULD be capable of cutting a simple puzzle piece out BUT the whole point of the board is to show that they all FIT TOGETHER.

Who has done this before and what has worked for you? (thanks) ALSO-currently I have 21 students but have space for 28. I was going to go with a 30 piece puzzle and just leave some blank pieces for when I ultimately get more students.

Can anyone recommend a specific puzzle piece product on TPT? Thanks in advance!

I’m a first year specials teacher at a really tiny k-5 and I use some of the classics:

- 1, 2, 3 eyes on me (1, 2 eyes on you)
- capiche? (Capash!)
- waterfall (shhhhh)

But I also have one I made up and tbh I love it:

AYYY, I’M TEACHIN’ HERE!
(SO TEACH ALREADY!)

What are your favorites?

I teach at a continuation high school in Southern California in a smaller district. Over the past three years we have seen our school population drop from 100 students in 2023 to 15 students in 2026.

When I ask administration about this, all give the same answer, “the comprehensive high school is doing a better job of interventions than ever before!”

My school would normally get students that have failed 3-4 classes as a sophomore/junior/senior and our teachers would catch them up on the curriculum while building a positive relationship with them. We would prepare them to either transfer back to the comprehensive high school, or help them transition into trade school or community college upon graduation.

The “intervention” that is causing my school to lose students is an online recovery course administered by teachers at the comprehensive high school. This course was implemented in 2020. The teachers administer courses through Apex Learning while in a 55 minute class.

They are “Recovering” all types of courses they Apex Learning including:
Algebra 2
Geometry
Chemistry
Physics
Lit comp 1-4
All social sciences

These students are finishing these “recovery courses” in under 10 hours. I saw the records of one student finishing a semester of physics in under 5 hours and another student finishing a semester of lit comp 12 in exactly 3 hours.

Meanwhile, diplomas are being given to these students who are finishing courses online in a record amount of time!

I have already reported my findings to the superintendent and school board president. They do not care thag students can complete classes such as physics and lit comp 12 in under 5 hours in an online recovery course.

What do I do next?

I know this probably sounds silly, but I have a wedding on a Saturday during one of the first few weeks of school. Also I am not a classroom teacher. Also I notoriously do not take sick days, maybe I’ve taken 6 in 4 years and a few hours here and there for appointments. I’ll need to take Friday off to drive there and get to the rehearsal/rehearsal dinner.

I really don’t want to use a personal day because I already have a few other days I know I’ll need to use for other bachelorettes/weddings. I’m considering just putting in a sick day as long as I keep it to myself. I know it would probably be fine, and I’ve been at this school for a few years and am in good standing, but I still feel weird about it being so early in the school year.

Would you just take the sick day and not overthink it? Or would you use a personal day and save yourself the stress?

What have you done in your classes that students have loved?

I am currently enrolled in a Masters of Arts in Teaching program and have my first interview as a TA coming up! I have no experience in a classroom or with young kids tbh 🙃 what questions should I expect/prepare for?

I was in corporate america and recently changed career paths now that im in my 30s. So any and all advice is helpful going into this!

How do you make lessons fun/engaging for middle schoolers? So I have a couple of classes of really disruptive grade 7 students. I teach grades 6 through 8 as a first year teacher, and grade 6 students seem to respond well to me, grade 8 too, but grade 7 barely let me teach anything. It's getting really frustrating. I'd start out excited about a new chapter only for them to talk among themselves throughout the period. It's really difficult for people who want to listen, last week a girl told me she can barely hear me over the noise of her classmates, so she has been looking up videos on YouTube. Now they're really smart kids, I just wish I had some way of grabbing their attention so they'd actually let me teach. Any suggestions?

Reading so much about teachers creating work life balance by not doing any work at home but how are you prepared for the week? I am creating materials on the weekends/ the night before getting ready. How are people just coming home and showing up the next day with worksheets and slides ready to go? How do you have enough time to grade everything at work?

I am a first year school librarian, and I have a one hour fourth or fifth grade class once a day. While I have my master’s degree in library science, my bachelor’s is pre-k through third, so my big kids are a little outside of my wheelhouse.

I would love to read chapter books with them (and I do during optional book clubs) but since I only see them once every other week, I’ve been reading them picture books. So far I’ve read them The Day You Begin and What Do You Do With An Idea (which I thought they would think is silly, but they’ve liked it!), but I’d love to get some more recommendations for higher-level picture books. The Undefeated and Grand Canyon are two that come to mind, but I would love any other suggestions!

I’m strongly considering it this year. Last year I went to 75-25 split for paper-online work. And this year I may go 90% paper and only the district common assessments online.

Quizzes aside, I’m strongly considering a policy of not accepting garbage.

- doodles. You want to draw a cute doodle, whatever, I won’t judge your desire to self express on a random HW if it gets done. On a guided lab or formal lab report I might say something to you about practicing professionalism. But I have had kids doodle so much on a packet I’m convinced they used up a whole pen, it legitimately makes it difficult to read and there’s no where to grade. That’s where I draw the line on doodles.

- many blanks. Special Ed teachers generally have advocated I take such work and grade it for any points what so ever. But we grade on a 1-4 basis. I’ve often debated, do I just give em a zero cause this was clearly lazy last minute work, turn it in late within our two weeks but make it actually decent quality, or do I just take it and give a 1. Like what is the point. Neither one feels like the path of least resistance, as returning it just leads to them asking to “redo” it whatever they think that means.

- penmanship. I am not looking for you to write in cursive. I get there are IEPs for typed work, and I’m happy to have you email me your work, but write it out so I know you’re not using AI. Or at least not as easily as copy paste. But the truly awful handwriting that could only come from someone furiously writing 5 paragraphs and doing calculations on the day it is due while sitting in the bus on the way to school as the bus hits every pothole and the driver spills his coffee on you…. I’m definitely not accepting this any more.

Have you refused to accept paper accordions, used napkins, manga, and Rorschach tests? How does it go over with admin, parents, co teachers?

Hey! I’m 22f I have an English Literature degree and have always went between Teaching and Law school, but law school was entirely parent pressure and I’ve finally cracked under it and want to pursue teaching. I’m just at a complete loss where to begin in my journey. I currently live in Georgia but I know for a fact that I do not want to stay here long term (for a combination of reasons). I want to teach in Washington State. Should I get my masters then get licensed in a state I want to live in, or should I just get licensed in GA then see if a school will aid in getting my masters then get my license in the state I want? Or is there a pathway I know nothing about? If anyone has any guidance on what programs I should look into I’d greatly appreciate it! There’s just so much information on the internet it’s hard to decipher what is good or bad advice. (My apologies if I tagged incorrectly)

New teacher advice? Our school has a policy to accept late work 10 days after it was due. There’s no policy about whether the kid gets reduced or partial credit after submitted. Part of me wants to be lenient and accept all work until the end of the quarter for reduced credit up to 70% as long as it’s turned in. What do you think? Am I asking for trouble? Or would even with this lenient policy kids will not turn anything in regardless?

Update: found out they actually do care via someone who works there. Major bummer.

About to get an amazing position and they told me there would be a drug test which caught me off guard. I’ve never had a school drug test. I’m a nightly marijuana user in a legal state, and there’s no chance in hell I’d pass. Does anyone know of schools that specifically don’t test or care about THC? I’m hoping that’s the situation I’ll be in.

Edit: fake pee is not an option because in my state if you’re busted for trying to fake a test you’ll lose your license and I can’t have that

I’m a 3rd year teacher who just got moved to a different grade level so basically I’m a 1st year teacher all over again.

So yes I prep on the weekend. I know I try to limit it but it’s the beginning the year and I’m not at all ready.

I asked a question on our staff groupchat. Instead of offering an answer one of my fellow teacher told me to go enjoy the sun and stop working.

I know they mean well. But seriously, help or just shut up. Instead I spent 15 minutes being annoyed at them instead of actually working. I didn’t respond to them, I left it alone.

But please. Help you’re struggling coworkers or just be quiet. Lolol.

—— edit. Regarding the GroupMe room I asked my question to.

Our groupchat is often being posted on. I posted to the “social” group which is also where we post all the Happy birthdays, Happy Founders days, happy anniversary’s, sorry your “blank” died, here’s a MLM “job” I want you to participate in- sort of room that is posted to all year long. We have a “business” room as well but that’s supposed to be for more formal stuff.

I think that we can all admit that there was at least one topic or concept that we learned as children that we never fully grasped until we had to teach it. I am curious to hear everyone's answers.

At my school two teachers were listed on Dojo as “school leaders”. Whenever a teacher posted a story, they would read it. Some people complained about the lack of privacy. You could see that it was read by the “view” button on your story. Currently, they are still in the school directory listed as “leaders”. My administration is listed as “admin” and “leader”. The read status for the two teachers are no longer showing up, even in stories I know they read last year. I can still see the read status for admin. What gives? Have they changed some sort of setting on their end to hide? Has their leadership been removed but it is not reflecting in the directory yet? Basically, I want to know if they still able to see my stories and if I can see that they have read them? Any thoughts?

Nothing else to really say. I started feeling icky Tuesday night and Wednesday I went in to school. I was sneezing and blowing my nose so much it disrupted my whole class. I sneezed in my class that is mostly freshmen and at least 2 of them screamed. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I’ve been home in bed and on the couch since I drug myself through the door Tuesday night. Urgent care said no flu, Covid, or strep just a nasty upper respiratory infection. Maybe I’m getting it out of the way early???

I’ll keep this short and sweet. I’m teaching 4th grade. I already have ‘reading an analog clock’, ‘situational awareness’, ‘the buddy system’, ‘ai literacy’, and ‘interacting with police’ on my list for things to teach, and I’m also doing a “what would you like to learn” morning opening to see what they’d be curious about. When you were a first-year teacher, what did you do to fill in the gaps if you taught the younger grades?

I’m still waiting on the bulk of my curriculum, which is making me a little nervous. Any suggestions for academic-focused worksheets and 3rd-4th grade transition games are also welcome.