A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
@jillinois.bsky.social
From Melvin. My dad killed Nazis. My birth was announced on Hee-Haw.
she/her
Progressive, Bi, GenX. Accidental science teacher. I look like a meek middle-aged Midwest mom. Chaotic good.
she/her
Progressive, Bi, GenX. Accidental science teacher. I look like a meek middle-aged Midwest mom. Chaotic good.
Okay now we deal with the 3 weeks between Thanksgiving & Winter breaks. Complete with moar! standardized testing, an early-out Monday, a formal observation of my class doing a lab (last year's notes included "please stop doing labs every observation."), and probably a shit ton of sugar & caffeine.
November 30, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Okay now we deal with the 3 weeks between Thanksgiving & Winter breaks. Complete with moar! standardized testing, an early-out Monday, a formal observation of my class doing a lab (last year's notes included "please stop doing labs every observation."), and probably a shit ton of sugar & caffeine.
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
“why the fuck are we invading Venezuela” should really be on at least a couple of chyrons
November 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
“why the fuck are we invading Venezuela” should really be on at least a couple of chyrons
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
happy thanksgiving!
November 27, 2025 at 9:53 PM
happy thanksgiving!
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
i could fix him
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
i could fix him
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
You know what, I'm just gonna re-up this post
November 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
You know what, I'm just gonna re-up this post
Why are they chanting "ILL" "INI" across the room at 8:43 on a Monday morning during the ed game? I need more coffee. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
November 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Why are they chanting "ILL" "INI" across the room at 8:43 on a Monday morning during the ed game? I need more coffee. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
Ugh. I take it back. Someone in the class just got to a score of 67K and the crowd has gone wild. #MiddleSchoolLyfe #SchoolOnMondayAndTuesday
November 24, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Ugh. I take it back. Someone in the class just got to a score of 67K and the crowd has gone wild. #MiddleSchoolLyfe #SchoolOnMondayAndTuesday
And now let us give thanks for the makers of educational game websites. #SchoolOnMondayAndTuesday
November 24, 2025 at 2:34 PM
And now let us give thanks for the makers of educational game websites. #SchoolOnMondayAndTuesday
Holiday Cactus is having its moment.
November 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Holiday Cactus is having its moment.
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
for those of you buying a thanksgiving turkey today, remember to take it out to defrost in time for the big meal! generally a frozen turkey needs to defrost for ten minutes per pound of weight
November 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
for those of you buying a thanksgiving turkey today, remember to take it out to defrost in time for the big meal! generally a frozen turkey needs to defrost for ten minutes per pound of weight
2nd hour just requested Sade.
They never fail to surprise me.
They never fail to surprise me.
November 21, 2025 at 5:03 PM
2nd hour just requested Sade.
They never fail to surprise me.
They never fail to surprise me.
8th hour is far and away the most popular time to request bathroom passes. #Data #MiddleSchoolLyfe
November 19, 2025 at 7:24 PM
8th hour is far and away the most popular time to request bathroom passes. #Data #MiddleSchoolLyfe
Watching a live cam of Rio and listening to bossa nova before 1st hour today. Kids keep asking me if the video is real or AI. :(
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Watching a live cam of Rio and listening to bossa nova before 1st hour today. Kids keep asking me if the video is real or AI. :(
I have noticed I have a verbal tic when teaching and say "Alright!" to get the attention of my students.
They counted today. I said it 20 times. They are keeping track on my whiteboard and have learned to delight in my errors. They are now trying to trick me into saying it more.
They counted today. I said it 20 times. They are keeping track on my whiteboard and have learned to delight in my errors. They are now trying to trick me into saying it more.
November 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I have noticed I have a verbal tic when teaching and say "Alright!" to get the attention of my students.
They counted today. I said it 20 times. They are keeping track on my whiteboard and have learned to delight in my errors. They are now trying to trick me into saying it more.
They counted today. I said it 20 times. They are keeping track on my whiteboard and have learned to delight in my errors. They are now trying to trick me into saying it more.
Someone farted in 2nd hour. Crank the air filters and open the window. #MiddleSchoolLyfe.
November 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Someone farted in 2nd hour. Crank the air filters and open the window. #MiddleSchoolLyfe.
Another rainy, grey morning. 1st hour is appropriately sleepy and quiet.
Got some jazz going in science to keep them that way. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
Got some jazz going in science to keep them that way. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
November 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Another rainy, grey morning. 1st hour is appropriately sleepy and quiet.
Got some jazz going in science to keep them that way. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
Got some jazz going in science to keep them that way. #MiddleSchoolLyfe
November 18, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Just spent a chunk of 1st period talking to the kids about the weather in Yakutsk, Russia. The coldest city on earth!
November 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Just spent a chunk of 1st period talking to the kids about the weather in Yakutsk, Russia. The coldest city on earth!
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
A gentle reminder for your day, in case you need it. 😽🤍
November 17, 2025 at 2:50 PM
A gentle reminder for your day, in case you need it. 😽🤍
Spent a lot of energy avoiding an email this week. Finally worked up my nerve and opened it….
And it was no big deal. Just a “Please schedule The Thing at your convenience.”
Not “The Thing is this week and LOL you are screwed,” as I had assumed/feared.
Phew. 😮💨
And it was no big deal. Just a “Please schedule The Thing at your convenience.”
Not “The Thing is this week and LOL you are screwed,” as I had assumed/feared.
Phew. 😮💨
November 15, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Spent a lot of energy avoiding an email this week. Finally worked up my nerve and opened it….
And it was no big deal. Just a “Please schedule The Thing at your convenience.”
Not “The Thing is this week and LOL you are screwed,” as I had assumed/feared.
Phew. 😮💨
And it was no big deal. Just a “Please schedule The Thing at your convenience.”
Not “The Thing is this week and LOL you are screwed,” as I had assumed/feared.
Phew. 😮💨
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
fuck this cop, man
November 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
fuck this cop, man
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
Because international student enrollment is so often used as a cudgel in discussions about immigration, this is a good time to remind people that international students aren't taking up spaces for US students at state schools, they are paying full tuition that FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR US STUDENTS.
November 14, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Because international student enrollment is so often used as a cudgel in discussions about immigration, this is a good time to remind people that international students aren't taking up spaces for US students at state schools, they are paying full tuition that FUNDS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR US STUDENTS.
Saw this maple while I walked home from work
November 14, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Saw this maple while I walked home from work
Reposted by A Jill in Illinois with a deep affection for mashed potatoes.
In addition to being straight-up Nazi rhetoric, the "undocumented immigrants caused the housing crisis" lie seems designed to drive me, personally, insane.
November 13, 2025 at 10:43 PM
In addition to being straight-up Nazi rhetoric, the "undocumented immigrants caused the housing crisis" lie seems designed to drive me, personally, insane.
I thought it was so sweet that one of my kiddos asked me to be a "cheerleader for a day!" We hugged! I may have teared up.
Then I went to practice.
WHAT MADNESS HAVE I AGREED TO?
Then I went to practice.
WHAT MADNESS HAVE I AGREED TO?
November 13, 2025 at 9:03 PM
I thought it was so sweet that one of my kiddos asked me to be a "cheerleader for a day!" We hugged! I may have teared up.
Then I went to practice.
WHAT MADNESS HAVE I AGREED TO?
Then I went to practice.
WHAT MADNESS HAVE I AGREED TO?