20 percent of teachers not likely to return to classrooms if schools reopen in fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also teach self contained.
If you are reinventing the wheel- you are not very good at your job. There are resources & curriculum for our students. It’s an awesome job. But really, the prep isn’t that hard.
Work smarter- not harder

Nice that you work in an ELS classroom in NW

The curriculum is nonexistent and what we do have is not enough. Like the other person said there is a lot of prep work to do and materials to make. Not to be a martyr but to make an actual difference

Why is it so hard to imagine that someone, with your same job, has a different experience than you? I fully believe you are reinventing the wheel and not utilizing the para(s) the way you should. I fully believe that you are making up a curriculum and letting your admin bully you into teaching grade level content to kids with severe & profound needs. I fully believe that you adding to your own stress & shortchanging the kids by allowing your admin to not send in subs when you para(s) are out. I totally believe it- because I use to be just like you. Then I wised up. Self contained is hard. It is. And we increase the burden by working harder and not smarter.
Also, do they even have ELS in NW? Self contained rooms are usually in under enrolled schools. Not NW.

Lol girl no, I work the crap out of my paras and they truly are like 2nd teachers and I love them.
Also it depends on what self-contained program you are in and your kiddos. Let me tell you Edmark, Attainment math, and Lexia ain’t it.

Some of my kids are too much of an early learner and then some kids are way past, some can’t use a computer yet. The gen ed curriculum doesn’t help either. So yea I do have to reinvent the wheel in order for my students to access different curriculum and not be 3 grade levels behind. My students gain 1.6-2.5 years worth of growth each year and Edmark certainly didn’t teach them how to read.

My admin also sends subs even when I say NO (they usually are afraid of the children, do nothing but sit there, or can’t learn what we are doing in just an hour) generally they are just an extra body.


I will say yea my admin does want me to get to grade level content but I also think people need to stop this toxic mindset that our kiddos are ‘too low’ to ever get there.

Agree, I really dislike having sub paras in the room. There are too many routines to explain, too many behaviors and plans to address, too many peculiarities of our day that I can’t explain so one person can function in my room for one day. There just isn’t time. I usually move my other staff around if there’s an absence to avoid having a sub be the 1:1 for any challenging student and give the sub simple tasks all day.

[Anonymous]

Nope- the toxic mindset is that your students only have value if they do grade level work. That’s what’s toxic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

Not PP, but why do you care? If she has 25 days of leave accumulated, good for her. She is well within her rights to take it. Teachers have families too. They don't exist to make your life easier.

[Anonymous]

Before my second child, I had 58 days of sick leave accumulated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

Not PP, but why do you care? If she has 25 days of leave accumulated, good for her. She is well within her rights to take it. Teachers have families too. They don't exist to make your life easier.

I know teachers who have upwards of 100 days. If schools open in an untenable fashion, teachers will take it. Some will go on “terminal leave” and never return. Others will space it out so they can be home when their children are. Yes, this will impact classrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

Not PP, but why do you care? If she has 25 days of leave accumulated, good for her. She is well within her rights to take it. Teachers have families too. They don't exist to make your life easier.

I know teachers who have upwards of 100 days. If schools open in an untenable fashion, teachers will take it. Some will go on “terminal leave” and never return. Others will space it out so they can be home when their children are. Yes, this will impact classrooms.

She’s actually not within her rights to take sick leave if neither she nor her child are sick. Just FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope- the toxic mindset is that your students only have value if they do grade level work. That’s what’s toxic.

I assume you are replying to my comment. Glad you're not a teacher. No teacher would read that as children who aren't on grade level have no value but rather we should strive to have children get there. All students deserve to reach their highest potential whether it be socially, emotionally, academics, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

Not PP, but why do you care? If she has 25 days of leave accumulated, good for her. She is well within her rights to take it. Teachers have families too. They don't exist to make your life easier.

I know teachers who have upwards of 100 days. If schools open in an untenable fashion, teachers will take it. Some will go on “terminal leave” and never return. Others will space it out so they can be home when their children are. Yes, this will impact classrooms.

She’s actually not within her rights to take sick leave if neither she nor her child are sick. Just FYI.

Not sure if you’re correct about teacher rights, but for sure teachers should use government paid family leave instead of their own sick leave. It sucks coming back from leave and then having no sick days left for the rest of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher with a child in public PK. If school is 2 days a week for my child I will be taking leave 1-2 days a week (trading off with DH who also has to work). I know it’s disruptive but nannies and babysitters are expensive (and finding them will be challenging) and I need to do what’s best for my family.

How do you have a child and that much leave saved? That’s 18-36 days. Are you going to do unpaid leave?

I have two kids and have 25 days of leave. I worked in the district for 7 years before having kids and took maybe 1 or 2 days a year off during that period.

You took 1-2 days of maternity leave?

Not PP, but why do you care? If she has 25 days of leave accumulated, good for her. She is well within her rights to take it. Teachers have families too. They don't exist to make your life easier.

I know teachers who have upwards of 100 days. If schools open in an untenable fashion, teachers will take it. Some will go on “terminal leave” and never return. Others will space it out so they can be home when their children are. Yes, this will impact classrooms.

She’s actually not within her rights to take sick leave if neither she nor her child are sick. Just FYI.

Not sure if you’re correct about teacher rights, but for sure teachers should use government paid family leave instead of their own sick leave. It sucks coming back from leave and then having no sick days left for the rest of the year.

Isn't there a specific thing right now that allows workers to take leave if their child's school isn't open?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope- the toxic mindset is that your students only have value if they do grade level work. That’s what’s toxic.

I assume you are replying to my comment. Glad you're not a teacher. No teacher would read that as children who aren't on grade level have no value but rather we should strive to have children get there. All students deserve to reach their highest potential whether it be socially, emotionally, academics, etc.

Nope. Grade level is not the holy grail. I am sped teacher and a sped mom. I took my own child the h*ll out of DCPS because of teachers like you. Teachers who thought it was adorable that they were teaching my kinder aged kid about the main idea in a text. When he needed to know how to recognize his name, potty training, and play skills.

I know you think you are doing good- and for most of the kids you are. But this grade level snake oil is not for all kids. My own child needs life skills- a class that DCPS refuses to give our students. And a district and school staff that refuse to value that are not actually willing and able to teach all kids. And for the pp who mentioned 2.5 years worth of growth per kid, yawn. Truly, yawn. So, with those states- after 3 years in your room the kid is not only ready for gen edu, but skipping grades? Do you see how silly that sounds. And what about the kids who don't help your TAS? They still are amazing, right?

For the kids in your self contained class that are doing grade level content. That is awesome. Truly! They need to be pushed into inclusion. I hope that you have the support structures in place at your school to do just that.

Kids with severe a profound needs need teachers who are willing and able to teach differently. Not gen edu light.

This spin off conversation started because someone said that DC teachers are not paid well enough, we are. And that sped teachers should make more, we should not. If anyone trule believes that they are underpaid and over worked, that is a disaster waiting for happen. Go and find a career that works well and where you feel valued.

I am paid well and love my work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope- the toxic mindset is that your students only have value if they do grade level work. That’s what’s toxic.

I assume you are replying to my comment. Glad you're not a teacher. No teacher would read that as children who aren't on grade level have no value but rather we should strive to have children get there. All students deserve to reach their highest potential whether it be socially, emotionally, academics, etc.

Nope. Grade level is not the holy grail. I am sped teacher and a sped mom. I took my own child the h*ll out of DCPS because of teachers like you. Teachers who thought it was adorable that they were teaching my kinder aged kid about the main idea in a text. When he needed to know how to recognize his name, potty training, and play skills.

I know you think you are doing good- and for most of the kids you are. But this grade level snake oil is not for all kids. My own child needs life skills- a class that DCPS refuses to give our students. And a district and school staff that refuse to value that are not actually willing and able to teach all kids. And for the pp who mentioned 2.5 years worth of growth per kid, yawn. Truly, yawn. So, with those states- after 3 years in your room the kid is not only ready for gen edu, but skipping grades? Do you see how silly that sounds. And what about the kids who don't help your TAS? They still are amazing, right?

For the kids in your self contained class that are doing grade level content. That is awesome. Truly! They need to be pushed into inclusion. I hope that you have the support structures in place at your school to do just that.

Kids with severe a profound needs need teachers who are willing and able to teach differently. Not gen edu light.

This spin off conversation started because someone said that DC teachers are not paid well enough, we are. And that sped teachers should make more, we should not. If anyone trule believes that they are underpaid and over worked, that is a disaster waiting for happen. Go and find a career that works well and where you feel valued.

I am paid well and love my work.

Wow you can't be a sped teacher you don't know how to even comprehend sentences.

If a child isn't able to go to the bathroom, ask for basic items verbally or device, has no social skill DUH we work on that. All of my students can use the bathroom independently and get their wants and needs met in a (mostly) appropriate manner, some it's definitely a work in progress.

Again lack of comprehension. Does 1.6 TO 2.5 mean 2.5 for each student? If I get a child in 2nd grade on a PS level, which I have 2.5 years in one still isn't enough. Also unlike you I have been able to transition some of my students into gen ed. And just because a student is in self contained doesn't mean they aren't at or above grade level. I have a student almost 2 grade levels above in math

Also shows me you don't work for DCPS if you don't know what the ILS program is lmao. And all self-contained classrooms teach life skills UNLESS THE TEACHER IS POOR.

I never said ONLY academics matter, however ONLY focusing on life skills as you are suggesting is just fake altruism. You're not doing enough to help your kids. Sorry if there are people who think students can learn it all and deserve to.


You 100% are one of those lazy teachers who is like 'Sam can't learn to read, he can't even use the bathroom by himself yet. So I'm just going to focus on that all school year.' While other teachers teach him both.

I'm not even going to touch on the pay issue with you, I've already wasted enough time. But thanks for the distraction from the chaos and re-affirming why I love teaching and am making a difference