Dear we are teachers,
It’s my first year at my new school, but overall it’s my seventh year. I love the new school, but one of the hang-ups I have is their personal day policy. You will need to fill out a Google Form (this is fine), but there is a checklist for “reasons of absence”: [Provide explanation]. “I have only used one personal day so far, but asking for reasons for a personal day seems inappropriate. Is that? Also, with Google Doc sharing settings, anyone can view the submissions!
– Mu, nunya?
Dear un,
It’s a small problem (but still) that you’re asked to explain why you’re asking for a personal day.
It’s a big problem that multiple users at your school have access to all people’s personal information, especially FMLA! Consult the principal as soon as possible and explain that this method of collecting this information is a great responsibility and you want to protect your school/district from lawsuits. Seriously.
Once you have updated your system (hopefully faster) so that your information only reaches the direct supervisor, you can decide how you want to proceed with future personal requests. There was never a major follow-up on why I was having a personal day. But if I really need to provide an explanation, I just write “personal day” or “previous commitment”. If they need more information than that, I think it would be fair to ask why. Are you concerned about your productivity? Are there district guidelines for the proper use of personal days you don’t know about? Hey, why are you so nostalgia?
Okay, maybe don’t ask for the last one. But the others are fair.
Dear we are teachers,
I am my first professor. I have already done the first round of parent meetings in the fall, and while I was somewhat relieved while putting that experience under my belt, I now have some militant parent companies I also know I’m hoping for it. Anxiety and unfamiliarity are sending me into the tail spin.
Other than bringing the right data and sample student work, what can you do to prepare as much as possible?
– The need for ousa
Dear inow,
My best advice? Especially when it comes to parent meetings, don’t go alone while your feet are still relatively wet. If you are not planning on having these meetings with other teachers, you should start taking notes to your supervisor or para to see if you can provide a second opinion if necessary. Plus, parents always behave better when there are multiple parties at all times.
Yes, we absolutely provide the right data and sample of student work. Also prepare how to fill parent meetings for students doing ridiculously, and check out other tips to survive the scary parent meeting. Finally, don’t miss out on our free (and customizable!) printable meeting form. You have this!
Dear we are teachers,
In January, our high school announced that all homeroom teachers should start teaching SEL five days a week (I know). We were promised to our full-time SEL coordinator to write these lessons in the fall, but during that time we were told to do everything we could on our own. My team and I try our best to do our best, but most of our PLC time is dedicated to the content area, AP Biology. Many of the SEL lessons I found online are aimed at elementary school students. Are there any recommendations for working in high school?
– Save our SEL ship!
Dear Saucel,
got it. This is what I do.
First, prioritize AP biology. Yes, SEL is important. However, if your administrator is not considered important enough to provide adequate support this semester, I will make those lessons perfect for the picture, as you probably want. You don’t have to worry about doing so. Especially if there is an AP test on the line!
This is what I do about SEL:
1. First, create a list of topics and/or lesson ideas (between 5-10) from the following resources:
Choose based on age differences, the needs seen in the student population, and guidance received from management (if any). Our teachers from our helpline group teachers on Facebook, and from both of us, there are some great places to get started.
2. Ask Chat GPT to create a schedule/calendar for the remaining years based on the list of curated lessons/activities.
Try a prompt like this. [date] In [date]. Use the activities/lessons provided as templates below to generate a calendar of daily lessons to follow. Ideally, each week will cover a different topic. “Next, paste the list of lessons you’ve collected.
Of course, just as you would expect to generate what AI uses with professional abilities, look carefully through your calendar and refine your prompts if necessary. It’s not perfect, but it’s a much better starting point than what you currently have!
Do you have any burning questions? Please email askweareteachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear we are teachers,
I teach high school journalism. One of our APs is that I swear and glue it to a security camera. He said that when she was pregnant, the number of bathroom breaks she took, the operating hours of the hallway combo between the two teachers during the meeting, and the teachers who arrive late at school or leave early. I used them to confront the teacher. .
Now, if he simply said, “Hey, this issue is trying to get my attention and do better,” then that would be one thing. But instead, every time he does this strange interrogation song and dance, he asks the teacher if he knows how long he is from the classroom. “It’s so embarrassing and totally groucha. I don’t mind facing this AP, but is it my place as a teacher that tells him that his micromanagement style is completely eccentric?
– “AP” stands for “astronomically small.”
