standbackweregoingtolearnscience:
When you go to the first year teacher tag, this is the list of what comes up as related tags. Those two at top are “i don’t know what else to do” and “I can’t do anything right”
In case anyone forgot that teaching is hard, y’all.
Not sure how I feel about this.
I mean, I’m hilarious.
But…no.
I had one with my History teacher’s comments in high school. Most of my classmates did too. After college, I found a whole facebook group devoted to sharing quotes and stories from her. Year after year, students were quoting here. I loved her class, I loved her witticisms, and I think she helped shape me in a significant way. Every now and then I’ll look that group up again just to laugh. Take it as a compliment.
I yelled at my third-grade class for an hour straight today, highly disappointed by the shoddy work they had given me on one of the practices we did in class.
I did what every mean teacher I hadn’t liked in school did - I made them stand at their seats, calling them out one by one and telling them what they did, or didn’t do wrong.
And yet, at the end of the class, hugs, and notes to remind me that no matter how frustrating these babes get, they love me regardless.
That, and that I can have massive eyebags and still look beautiful to these monsters.
It can be hard when your students don’t do as well as you think they are capable. But this won’t be the last time a group of students disappoints you. I think, from what you posted, you know that this wasn’t the best way to handle it. We all reach our limits and make mistakes (I have many). I think the best thing you can take away from this though is your reflections afterwards. What will you do differently when your class disappoints you the next time?
(Source: yes-miss-nisa)
Would love it if they had included some Tumblrs on here, but think this could be a great resources — especially for teachers about to embark on their first year of teaching!
Today was sort of an epic fail, but I turned it out in the end.
WHY DO I KEEP UNDER PLANNING!?
Oh well, it’s a learning process.
Remember this. It is always better to plan too many thought-provoking, engaging, hands on activities tied to the objective than to have too little and need to supplement with things that aren’t as good as they would be if you had more time to think.
I described my current situation to a friend thusly: I am so far in the weeds teaching that I can’t even see the sky.
I’m struggling with all kinds of behavior issues (including repeated parent emails from different parents revolving around one particular child), learning how to teach a new curriculum, and suddenly having kids all over the spectrum ability-wise. My intern year was at G/T school, and those are the kids I’ve got experience with (and are the kids I tend to connect with the most). I’m teaching some kids how to read (bear in mind I have little to no experience with that) while other students of mine are reading well above grade level. To top it all off, we’re an expeditionary learning school and that adds a whole other level of newness and unfamiliarity.
Also, I’m living alone and I have no one to decompress with/to. I come home to my (lovely, dear) cat.
I really could use some kind of pep talk. I know I need to talk to my supports at school (teammate, reading specialist, building resource teacher, principal), and I will. I just… I am having trouble looking on the bright side right now.
This happens to all of us our first year, even when it isn’t our first year but with a new school district. You will survive, you will be good at this, it will take time. Don’t be afraid to ask some experts in your field for some pointers.
I don’t have any experience co-teaching, but I think (and hope) that this will be true co-teaching. My district prides itself on the quality of its special education and support staff, and co-teachers are quite common in my high school.
I am not sure yet whether I will have dedicated planning time during the school day with my co-teacher, but I do know that she has four years of experience with this particular class, including four years of materials (I’m hoping to sit down with her tomorrow or Weds; I was supposed to do it today but got sidetracked). I will very much be learning from her, especially at the beginning. It’s a small class—only 12 students. My challenge will be planning thoroughly enough and enough in advance to fully incorporate the co-teacher (I’ve always procrastinated planning…). I know that she’s a professional and I don’t want to be one of those content teachers that puts their co-teacher in a corner for the year. The fact that she has been with this school and this class for so long tells me she’s good at what she does. My goal is for us to develop a classroom environment that lets us both exercise our teaching prowess.
I’m sure Tumblr will be hearing all about my co-teaching adventures. I invite anyone out there who has experience on either side of co-teaching to give me advice, insight, useful/entertaining anecdotes, etc.
Open communication is the number one rule.
