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Post by elaine on Aug 4, 2022 21:49:35 GMT
How's everyone doing? When do people have to report in? I picked up my new laptop (shiny!), my badge and parking tag today, but the new office assistant accidentally gave my room key to the other new 3rd-grade teacher, so I won't pick that up until next week. I have orientation on the 11th at my school, and then a week to set up my classroom and have school wide and 3rd-grade team meetings. Open House is on the 18th and then school starts on the 22nd. I don't know if I mentioned, but one of the teachers on the 3rd grade team was my 22 y.o.'s 2nd grade teacher (that is how long many of the teachers stay at our school). He proposed to her and told her that he was going to buy her a ring at Tiffany's. It is still one of her favorite teaching stories.
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 4, 2022 21:50:42 GMT
I'm presenting for new teachers this week (and going in a bit to prep my lab). We officially start Monday! (2 days inservice/work time, kids come Wednesday).
It's my 25th year!
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Post by elaine on Aug 4, 2022 21:52:05 GMT
I'm presenting for new teachers this week (and going in a bit to prep my lab). We officially start Monday! (2 days inservice/work time, kids come Wednesday). It's my 25th year! You are one of the people that motivated me to go back for my teaching license.
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 4, 2022 21:57:17 GMT
I'm presenting for new teachers this week (and going in a bit to prep my lab). We officially start Monday! (2 days inservice/work time, kids come Wednesday). It's my 25th year! You are one of the people that motivated me to go back for my teaching license. Oh wow!!!! Well, I'm so glad you did! I hope you have a great year!
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Post by leannec on Aug 4, 2022 22:19:33 GMT
I have been on a medical leave of absence since the beginning of May ... my health was really bad at the time but I'm doing better! My school is on a modified calendar and teachers return on August 10th ... I'm not sure that I'm ready (physically or mentally) but I'm going to give it a shot! Students return August 15th ... I teach grade 7 Humanities ... I'll have a couple of days to plan with my team ... there are three of us I have had no emails from the school for months so I'm completely in the dark as to what will happen next week
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Post by Merge on Aug 4, 2022 23:05:49 GMT
My retirement that morphed into a part time return has morphed into an almost full time return. Whatever. I’m excited to make my own schedule and to not be in the regular specialist rotation (therefore not covering other people’s state-mandated planning period, which gives me a lot more flexibility), and I’m excited to start a guitar program at the school this year. Also after school choir, which I’ve missed doing these last few years.
I’m also excited that as an hourly teacher I don’t have carpool duty. Haha. That’s the best of all.
We go back for two weeks of in-service this Monday, and the kids come back Aug. 22.
Let’s all stay Covid- and Monkeypox-free this year!
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 4, 2022 23:13:28 GMT
I’m stressing in the front office this week. The principal who is amazing and everyone loves her announced yesterday that she’s leaving. She was offered a position in another district that is too good to pass up.
We just hired a new superintendent last week, she was an elementary principal at another school in the county. So now there are 2 schools in a county of 100k people searching for elementary principals…..I’m guessing the pool of viable candidates is really small 🤦🏻♀️
We’re already 2 teachers short at the elementary (had 4 teachers leave) and not a single applicant.
I return full time on Monday, school starts the 29th.
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Post by elaine on Aug 4, 2022 23:42:09 GMT
I’m stressing in the front office this week. The principal who is amazing and everyone loves her announced yesterday that she’s leaving. She was offered a position in another district that is too good to pass up. We just hired a new superintendent last week, she was an elementary principal at another school in the county. So now there are 2 schools in a county of 100k people searching for elementary principals…..I’m guessing the pool of viable candidates is really small 🤦🏻♀️ We’re already 2 teachers short at the elementary (had 4 teachers leave) and not a single applicant. I return full time on Monday, school starts the 29th. The Washington Post mentioned that my school district “only” has 3% vacancies for teacher positions in yesterday’s story on the local teacher shortage crisis. Except that, in talking with my principal today, that is 400+ open teaching positions. 400+ classrooms that don’t have a teacher that will be there on the 22. We have over 200 schools in my district. It is frightening.
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anaterra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,827
Location: Texas
Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Aug 5, 2022 0:01:06 GMT
houstonsandy how are things at your school?? Just being nosey Edit:maybe not... i just saw she hasnt posted since last October
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moodyblue
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,171
Location: Western Illinois
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 21:07:23 GMT
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Post by moodyblue on Aug 5, 2022 0:08:53 GMT
Many schools in my area started this week. The district where I live had the first day with kids yesterday (Wednesday, Aug. 3) and the district I’m retired from started with kids today, after three days of in-service. New teachers were in training some of last week. No districts in my area do more than two or three official days of in-service for most teachers.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 5, 2022 0:14:57 GMT
Because of construction, we return August 24th I'll do the new teacher's breakfast on the 23rd. Students start September 6th, hopefully all the buildings will be finished in time.
We are short teachers and have hired students teachers for some of the positions.
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Post by Merge on Aug 5, 2022 0:23:21 GMT
I’m stressing in the front office this week. The principal who is amazing and everyone loves her announced yesterday that she’s leaving. She was offered a position in another district that is too good to pass up. We just hired a new superintendent last week, she was an elementary principal at another school in the county. So now there are 2 schools in a county of 100k people searching for elementary principals…..I’m guessing the pool of viable candidates is really small 🤦🏻♀️ We’re already 2 teachers short at the elementary (had 4 teachers leave) and not a single applicant. I return full time on Monday, school starts the 29th. The Washington Post mentioned that my school district “only” has 3% vacancies for teacher positions in yesterday’s story on the local teacher shortage crisis. Except that, in talking with my principal today, that is 400+ open teaching positions. 400+ classrooms that don’t have a teacher that will be there on the 22. We have over 200 schools in my district. It is frightening. We have more than 800 vacancies … also more than 200 schools. I’m lucky that my school is fully staffed for now, but lots of schools (of course it’s the lowest-income schools) are going to be struggling.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,363
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Aug 5, 2022 0:28:33 GMT
We have Institute days on the 16th & 17th, with students starting in the 18th (I am a SLP). I’m a mentor this year, so I have some training to attend this coming week.
I’m slightly optimistic this *might* be a better year. Last year was pure hell. My caseload looks more reasonable, and the other SLP in the building and a now full time, which should make my life a lot easier.
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Post by Blind Squirrel on Aug 5, 2022 0:39:00 GMT
In person return on the 15th of August; Open House on the 19th and students arrive on the 22nd.
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Post by playingcinderella on Aug 5, 2022 1:04:41 GMT
Officially return on Monday 8/8 but unofficially I started back last week. Meetings with our students officers last week and our Freshman camp this week. We've had a great turn out and a ton of fun (plus some work) so I'm excited for the upcoming crop of theatre kids.
School starts for transistion grades (K, 1, 6, 9) on 8/16 and the rest of the grades 8/17.
We only have 2 open positions the last I heard, so hopefully that holds. The district as a whole has quite a few openings and had 400 new teachers at orientation last week.
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misse336
Full Member
Posts: 220
Feb 24, 2020 2:57:43 GMT
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Post by misse336 on Aug 5, 2022 1:42:23 GMT
I am allowed into my classroom next week (floors finished being waxed/dried). I plan to go in next week with all of the things that I have accumulated over the summer - things that the peas sent me and I things that I have bought - and set up the classroom I will be using this year. I'm super excited to have a handful of decodable readers - many sent by the peas - to organize/set up for my students to read. As I've been gathering my supplies together I am amazed that a few peas sent me things for my classroom and I am so grateful for them. I had been looking for grants that I could qualify for to get some supplies/books and there just aren't many out there anymore and the ones out there are for such specific things (not books).
Inservice starts in 2 weeks. Students start the week after that.
I am 1/2 excited to start a new year (that I hope will have less of the turbulence/uncertainty/toughness of the past 3 school years) and 1/2 thinking "How in the world is it August already?!?!?!".
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SabrinaP
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Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,350
Location: Dallas Texas
Member is Online
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
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Post by SabrinaP on Aug 5, 2022 1:53:54 GMT
I'm so excited to hear about your first year throughout the year elaine . First year teachers are my favorites! I started back this week. Unfortunately, I lost all 3 of my paraprofessionals that do intervention with me. They each got into a program in our district that will let them teach whilel finishing their degree under the supervision of a mentor master teacher. I'm praying that I did a good job of preparing them and that they are each in the right positon for them. Everything moved lightening fast. They all got their new positions at the very end of last week. They are so sweet and decorated my room for me. It looks a million times better that it's ever looked before. When they found out about the new positions they all 3 Facetimed me because they wanted to show me my room and they wanted to see my face since they wouldn't be there on Monday. I've been super busy since I'm doing what I normally do plus picking up some of the para's responsibilities unitl we are able to hire. I'm hoping to sit in on some interviews tomorrow and find some good people!
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,402
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 5, 2022 4:37:43 GMT
My new classroom (built in the 1920’s) at my new school (continuation high school) at its new site (the high school campus in a separate wing) is ready (or as ready as it can be) for my continuation high school kids to show up tomorrow morning. I’ll report in tomorrow night on how it goes. 2 teachers, secretary, part time principal, that all the staff we have. I have 9 chemistry kids, 11 integrated 1 math kids, 14 electives kids that I will help with online classes.
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Post by gorgeouskid on Aug 5, 2022 6:45:41 GMT
I (officially) report back next Wednesday. I'm a coach who has extra summer hours, so I've been doing some. New Teacher Orientation is Monday/Tuesday, which is optional for me (but not really), so I'm going to be there.
I think if I hadn't had COVID in the past month, I might have a different perspective, but I'll be there.
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Aug 5, 2022 12:33:45 GMT
We go back the 23rd for a week of inservice. Paras are with us the first 2 days (lots of district wide stuff) and then off until Freshman day. This sucks because there is no way we can use time during those days to do schedules for them so they won’t have them until the first day. I am mentoring a new teacher (she was a para for years so I know her) so I’m supposed to participate in new teacher day but I haven’t heard anything. There is a new teacher running it this year and she’s incredibly unorganized so I’ll probably hear at the last minute. I’m still recovering from a total knee (5weeks out and doing great) but I’m hoping our assistant principal does plan a big scavenger hunt because I can’t. I’m good with my cane but I’m now working through back issues and my stamina is low so I just don’t want to! LOL
For students, Freshman start on the 30th and everyone on the 31st.
Are your schools doing live shooter drills? We do every year with teaching staff but this year after reading and watching all the crap with Uvalde, I don’t know if I can.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 5, 2022 12:39:52 GMT
We go back the 23rd for a week of inservice. Paras are with us the first 2 days (lots of district wide stuff) and then off until Freshman day. This sucks because there is no way we can use time during those days to do schedules for them so they won’t have them until the first day. I am mentoring a new teacher (she was a para for years so I know her) so I’m supposed to participate in new teacher day but I haven’t heard anything. There is a new teacher running it this year and she’s incredibly unorganized so I’ll probably hear at the last minute. I’m still recovering from a total knee (5weeks out and doing great) but I’m hoping our assistant principal does plan a big scavenger hunt because I can’t. I’m good with my cane but I’m now working through back issues and my stamina is low so I just don’t want to! LOL For students, Freshman start on the 30th and everyone on the 31st. Are your schools doing live shooter drills? We do every year with teaching staff but this year after reading and watching all the crap with Uvalde, I don’t know if I can. I hate that they don't allow the paras to be there. And then they wonder why the new paras aren't trained well. We don't do active shooter drills except the hide in a corner and turn out the lights ones.
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Post by elaine on Aug 5, 2022 12:48:08 GMT
My new classroom (built in the 1920’s) at my new school (continuation high school) at its new site (the high school campus in a separate wing) is ready (or as ready as it can be) for my continuation high school kids to show up tomorrow morning. I’ll report in tomorrow night on how it goes. 2 teachers, secretary, part time principal, that all the staff we have. I have 9 chemistry kids, 11 integrated 1 math kids, 14 electives kids that I will help with online classes. I hope that it all goes well today!!
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Post by annie on Aug 5, 2022 13:38:14 GMT
I start year 23 on September 1st! Welcome Back Week for teachers begins on August 26. I will be the Special Ed inclusion classroom for my Kindergarten team this year. (It rotates. I was the ELL room last year.) We cut a teacher at each grade level, so I am anticipating high class sizes, and of course, no assistant. Yikes. Just getting over Covid, currently. Starting to get excited for a new year and will be doing some planning next week. Can't get into room for awhile yet due to waxing.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Aug 5, 2022 14:00:01 GMT
I’m stressing in the front office this week. The principal who is amazing and everyone loves her announced yesterday that she’s leaving. She was offered a position in another district that is too good to pass up. We just hired a new superintendent last week, she was an elementary principal at another school in the county. So now there are 2 schools in a county of 100k people searching for elementary principals…..I’m guessing the pool of viable candidates is really small 🤦🏻♀️ We’re already 2 teachers short at the elementary (had 4 teachers leave) and not a single applicant. I return full time on Monday, school starts the 29th. The Washington Post mentioned that my school district “only” has 3% vacancies for teacher positions in yesterday’s story on the local teacher shortage crisis. Except that, in talking with my principal today, that is 400+ open teaching positions. 400+ classrooms that don’t have a teacher that will be there on the 22. We have over 200 schools in my district. It is frightening. While 3% is an unacceptable amount I wish it were only that much for us. 2 teachers and 1 principal is 24% of our certified spots 😳😳. If you throw in non-certified staff (kitchen staff, paras, etc) then we’re closer to 5%. The plan right now is to put long term subs for the teacher and hope to hire fresh graduate in December. For the principal I have no clue, I’m running through all the various scenarios in my mind and none of them are good (except actually hiring someone good which would be a miracle).
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Aug 5, 2022 14:05:29 GMT
We go back the 23rd for a week of inservice. Paras are with us the first 2 days (lots of district wide stuff) and then off until Freshman day. This sucks because there is no way we can use time during those days to do schedules for them so they won’t have them until the first day. I am mentoring a new teacher (she was a para for years so I know her) so I’m supposed to participate in new teacher day but I haven’t heard anything. There is a new teacher running it this year and she’s incredibly unorganized so I’ll probably hear at the last minute. I’m still recovering from a total knee (5weeks out and doing great) but I’m hoping our assistant principal does plan a big scavenger hunt because I can’t. I’m good with my cane but I’m now working through back issues and my stamina is low so I just don’t want to! LOL For students, Freshman start on the 30th and everyone on the 31st. Are your schools doing live shooter drills? We do every year with teaching staff but this year after reading and watching all the crap with Uvalde, I don’t know if I can. I hate that they don't allow the paras to be there. And then they wonder why the new paras aren't trained well. We don't do active shooter drills except the hide in a corner and turn out the lights ones. My ds was a new para last year and no training. Our department chair is a retired vice principal who chose not to keep her license so essentially a para. She does no planning for para in-service days and there has really been no district wide para training either. This year a coworker and I are assuming responsibility for para trainings in our building (high school). We’ve gotten or director’s approval. If it goes well, we’ll do it district wide next year. It’s so unfair to them and then our dept chair sends them off to the vice principal who has them clean stuff. It ridiculous.
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Aug 5, 2022 14:23:28 GMT
I can’t believe the teacher shortages. I live in VT and the special educator shortages are crazy not to mention the increase in eligible students. I work in a high school with 400 students. Last year our freshman class had 18 students on IEPs. Our incoming class has 36! VT is allowing anyone with a BS to receive a receive a provisional license as long as they are enrolled in program for a special Ed license or have demonstrated they are in another path to receive the classes necessary for licensure. I don’t think we’ll ever go as far as FL to ensure we have enough teachers but it’s scary. My son is deciding whether or not he wants t o pursue a degree in education or IT.
At my school we are only short a math intervention and a .5 special educator. Our elementary schools are in dire need of teachers. They’re trying to figure out how to combine classes and other ways to cover/teach students. It’s a mess all over the country. It makes my heart hurt. I love teaching! It’s a second career for me but this will be my 15th year.
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,977
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Aug 7, 2022 0:09:09 GMT
I went back August 3rd. My room was still a hot mess. They had to replace the compressor in my ceiling. I couldn't get my room together. They also have to install a new projector VIA system, but projectors are on back-order. At least I got my desk together and got my desk put together. I also went through some files and cleaned out old stuff.
Friday we had a kick off with our new Superintendent. I liked him. He came from outside the district. Fresh eyes.
Friday afternoon our building staff went to a camp and did a low ropes course. We were in teams and had activities. It was hot, but we really had a lot of fun. It gave us a chance to meet some new staff.
Monday we have our big staff meeting.
Kids come back on Wednesday.
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TankTop
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1,871
Posts: 4,767
Location: On the couch...
Jun 28, 2014 1:52:46 GMT
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Post by TankTop on Aug 7, 2022 0:59:10 GMT
I have completed 3 days with kids already.
My feet and legs have been so sore I can barely walk in the mornings. I always forget that part.
Looking forward to a full week.
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Post by leannec on Aug 7, 2022 2:02:53 GMT
Friday afternoon our building staff went to a camp and did a low ropes course. Ack! My idea of Hell! We are doing an outdoor Aboriginal "Circle" I think on Wednesday morning ... my principal is really into these things ... I like circle but I don't love "outside"
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Post by Bobomommy on Aug 7, 2022 2:11:34 GMT
Teachers returned Friday, July 22. Open House/Meet the Teacher was on Tuesday, July 26. School started Monday, August 1.
We have finished our first week of school!
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