We use iMovie and slides to create presentations throughout the year. And the kids insist, INSIST, on inserting these dumb “Thanks for Watching!” closing slides in their projects. It’s sooooooooo annoying. So, because I am mean, I banned them. I feel your teacher’s pain.

I can tell that you are not a teacher of wily middle-schoolers. Believe me, I model formatting, I give a style guide, and mark down, but not everyone is a compliant student. It’s kinda like the old cliche, “you can lead a horse to water...”

Your papers would have a large “see me” scrawled across the top in my class. 😂

I once was the marketing department at a Jesus summer camp, and the camp director insisted ALL collateral and communications be delivered in papyrus. That job sucked, and I didn’t even get unemployment when I was laid off, because religious organizations are exempt from paying state unemployment insurance.

I spend 9 out of 10 months of the school year trying to break my 6th grade students’ penchant for fonts. It drives me bonkers. I constantly tell them that their creativity shines through in their actual writing, not their font choice. They act like I’m taking away the 1st Amendment. They also insist on writing titles…

Well, not sure those kids came up with it. The same sign sprouted in the 8th grade wing at my middle school 2 weeks ago. It’s either going around on snap or Instagram. Our dress code is incredibly lax, but does require underwear and midriffs to be covered. And nothing promoting violence, drugs or alcohol. Frankly, I…

Mr. Run used to cook professionally, and when he actually cooks at home it’s amazing, BUT he never really wants to cook. I do th vast majority of cooking. So marrying a chef is not always a sure bet. He does like to go to good restaurants to check out other chefs, so that’s a positive.

Clan of the Cave Bear (or was it Valley of Horses?) introduced 6th grade-me to ladies receiving oral sex. I remember being both slightly repulsed and also desperate to know what it felt like. My mom found the book under my bed and was seriously pissed. I also read The Silence of the Lambs that year, and that also…

Ugh. I’m growing out an asymmetric pixie and it is THE. WORST. I just want my blunt bob back.

Madeline. Bobby. You are just so goddamned delightful to listen to. I’m a casual RH viewer, and I also have much love for Yolanda. I am almost convinced to start watching NY. Almost.

I was 17 when this movie came out, and my HS boyfriend and I saw it in the theater. I remember identifying very strongly with the Alyssa character, because I too, was a woman with a past (i.e. had had sex with one other dude, one time, before I met said boyfriend, who was a virgin) and boyfriend had a hard time…

Bobby, you are a goddamned delight. I’ve been listening to Dirt Cast (I even subscribed!) and you and Madeline just make my horrible commute so pleasant and fun.

I still miss True Blood, so I enjoyed seeing Eric Northman skulk around in his Elvis costume. I was not sad that he was staked in the end.

I’m gaga for Outdoor Voices leggings. They are compression and really hold up. They are spendy, between $80-$95 depending on the length. But they hold up beautifully. They also are not neon or crazy patterns. Mostly neutrals and color blocking with jewel tones and pastels. They just released a cactus collection which…

Long summer vacations only go so far. Seriously. I thought that when I became a teacher, summer break would be the best thing ever. But unless I am super organized and disciplined, it makes me stir-crazy. Most of my close friends work year-round jobs, my spouse works year-round and we don’t have kids yet. I can…

Dude, that sounds like a spoiler! I haven’t read the book, but I have a feeling you just inadvertently revealed a big mystery. Dammit!

You know what’s fun? Doing these drills at school. :| try wrangling a classroom full of 6th graders, and begging them (as they are hiding) to stop giggling, so we can pass when the PD and principal comes by to unlock the door. Or, my personal favorite, directing children to help barricade both doors to your classroom.

Have you been to the Gap?

I currently teach 6th grade. One of my students had an obviously off the shoulder top on today, but it was pulled over her shoulders. She also had on some complicated racer-back bra thing underneath. The tweens, they love the bralettes.

My resident teacher had only 3 years in when he volunteered to have me as a student teacher. The very next year he was getting an admin credential, and then the next year, he left his school in OCTOBER (WTF, who leaves in October) to become an assistant principal at a neighboring district. He had 5 years of classroom…