First year teacher

[fly girl]

Well, the class lists came out for the new school year for DD.


DD has the new teacher straight out of college. I'll be honest, I have mixed emotions. I'm sure this new teacher will be excited and eager -- this is what she's worked so hard for. But I also know that first year has to be tough. Any new job is hard, finding what works for you takes time and some mistakes. Especially when they give you the troublemaker of that grade. Why would they do that to a new teacher? Ugh!!


So fellow teachers, how was your first year of teaching?


And fellow parents, how was it when your child had a first year teacher?

 

[alicat8]

It was awful but the kids all survived and just graduated high school. I just saw 15 of the 18 of them after graduation, and they're all going to college. I don't think I was an awful teacher to them, but I hated it and basically cried every day. I also lost about 15 pounds.

 

[Kitty 34]

I always think everyone has that "first" year regardless of there job. Good luck to your DD and the new teacher.

You should have seen my first year subbing....holy moly!!! I learned a lot and got better!

 

[aejammers]

My son must have an asterisk next to his name in the school district because he always get the long-term sub since the teacher either is out on maternity leave at the beginning of the year, or leaves for maternity leave at the end. This happened in 3rd grade and 5th grade, and again with his history teacher this past freshman year. And his gym teacher was out both 7th and 8th grade. And these long-term subs are Always first-year teachers who couldn't find a full-time job.

Then in 6th grade he had the brand-new teacher. Now that I think about it, I think his kindergarten teacher was 1st year too.

I have to admit though, that his sub in 5th grade was actually better than the regular teacher, mostly because when she came back from maternity leave she had the new baby Plus was finishing her masters. She was totally checked out. I never wished for a sub to come back so much as I did that year.

And his 6th grade teacher was probably his best elementary teacher, and the one he liked the best (aside from his 2nd grade one who had been teaching for 25 years).

 

[Coonhound]

What grade is she? Middle childhood teachers (here 4th grade through 9th grade) I feel like can have more issues and talk to your kids about speaking to parents if the teacher doesn't seem to behave in a professional manner. Good luck.

 

[pryncess527]

It was awful but the kids all survived and just graduated high school. I just saw 15 of the 18 of them after graduation, and they're all going to college. I don't think I was an awful teacher to them, but I hated it and basically cried every day. I also lost about 15 pounds.

My mom said the same thing about her first year teaching. She survived another 35 years though.

 

[alicat8]

My mom said the same thing about her first year teaching. She survived another 35 years though.

I'm 10 years in. Crying is down to about once a month

 

[fly girl]

I always think everyone has that "first" year regardless of there job. Good luck to your DD and the new teacher.

You should have seen my first year subbing....holy moly!!! I learned a lot and got better!

Thank you!

I hope you know I agree that the first year is hard in any profession -- I did say that in my post. I never meant it to come across as strictly for teaching. I'm sorry if it read that way.

 

[aprilchem]

My DS9 had a brand new teacher last year and she was AWESOME. We loved her, DS loved her, and we were all sad at the end of the year. She had a ton of energy (because she was 22), knew all of the latest teaching techniques, was great with technology, and just a general superstar.

Plus, they put a boy who has bullied my son since preschool in the same class (we can't get away from that boy - I swear) and for the first time, we did not have ONE issue the entire year. The teacher was on it. I really, really liked her and hope my daughter gets this teacher when she gets to 3rd grade!

 

[fly girl]

What grade is she? Middle childhood teachers (here 4th grade through 9th grade) I feel like can have more issues and talk to your kids about speaking to parents if the teacher doesn't seem to behave in a professional manner. Good luck.

3rd grade. Catholic school.

She's at camp right now, but I know the tears are coming when she sees the list. Not only did she not get the teacher she wanted, her closest friends aren't in her class. She will be fine, you can't get it all. Welcome to life, kid. But behind the scenes I do feel sorry for her.

I've always wondered how schools chose what kids to put in what class.

 

[fly girl]

My DS9 had a brand new teacher last year and she was AWESOME. We loved her, DS loved her, and we were all sad at the end of the year. She had a ton of energy (because she was 22), knew all of the latest teaching techniques, was great with technology, and just a general superstar.

Plus, they put a boy who has bullied my son since preschool in the same class (we can't get away from that boy - I swear) and for the first time, we did not have ONE issue the entire year. The teacher was on it. I really, really liked her and hope my daughter gets this teacher when she gets to 3rd grade!

Oh yay! I'm really hoping this will be the case for us. You gave me hope.

Thank you!!!!!

 

[Disney_traveler]

Part of my job is being an advisor to a student organization. It isn't an extra like class sponsor, it is part of the job. Anyways in high school our school was extremely involved. Well the school I was hired at for my first teaching job right out of college wanted to expand their program and get more involved....or that's what I was told. They actually just wanted a highly paid babysitter that let the kids and other teacher do as they please. Organization involvement was more along the lines of "if we show up at an event at all, that's an accomplishment to be proud of." I was told by parents I was creating too much work and expectations and was a sad excuse for a teacher. I was told by administration I needed to go to a school with more discipline.

I left after that year and was hired at my old high school. Where there is a desire for continued success and kids don't call the shots.

 

[alicat8]

Kids always love the new teacher. I can't imagine your daughter would be upset. The youngest teacher is always the best, even when they're not. Unless they're reeeeally bad

 

[fly girl]

Kids always love the new teacher. I can't imagine your daughter would be upset. The youngest teacher is always the best, even when they're not. Unless they're reeeeally bad

Our school has three 3rd grade teachers. Apparently, they did some interactive stuff last year and DD got to know (and adore ) the teacher that was across the hall from her class last year.

She's been praying to get her.

This is the first time she's ever really wanted a teacher. (Although I know for 4th grade she will pray not to get one, lol.)

Of course I'm going to put the exciting new teacher spin on it and hopefully the tears won't last long.

 

[King Schultz]

Our school has three 3rd grade teachers. Apparently, they did some interactive stuff last year and DD got to know (and adore ) the teacher that was across the hall from her class last year.

She's been praying to get her.

This is the first time she's ever really wanted a teacher. (Although I know for 4th grade she will pray not to get one, lol.)

Of course I'm going to put the exciting new teacher spin on it and hopefully the tears won't last long.

Give her some Children's NyQuil and show her a couple Toby Tyler films. . she'll be fine.

 

[Miskey]

Well, the class lists came out for the new school year for DD.


DD has the new teacher straight out of college. I'll be honest, I have mixed emotions. I'm sure this new teacher will be excited and eager -- this is what she's worked so hard for. But I also know that first year has to be tough. Any new job is hard, finding what works for you takes time and some mistakes. Especially when they give you the troublemaker of that grade. Why would they do that to a new teacher? Ugh!!
So fellow teachers, how was your first year of teaching?
And fellow parents, how was it when your child had a first year teacher?

I take it there is a child in the class that you don't think much of?

 

[fly girl]

I take it there is a child in the class that you don't think much of?

Oh, this child is well known. He has behavioral issues. Very disruptive. I learned first hand several times helping the classroom two years ago when he was in her class.

It was the same last year with First Communion. The teachers did great, but no doubt he's not easy.

I was just surprised they had him with the new teacher as he is very challenging. Who knows, maybe she will rock it!

 

[fly girl]

Give her some Children's NyQuil and show her a couple Toby Tyler films. . she'll be fine.

She will be fine. As we all will be.

 

[gotomu212]

We had ne new teacher and one long term sub that was a first year teacher. I think it can vary a lot by teacher personality and school structure but we found both pros and cons.

Cons- we noticed they had a little less control of their rooms (nothing crazy but we came from a teacher with 30 years experience who was always 3 steps ahead of any potential trouble to a teacher that was caught off guard by how quickly some things could escalate), there was a little more trial and error in some of their approaches, one in particular seemed to get more concerned about a kid not hitting a milestone or being a little bit behind. BUT

Pros- way more enthusiasm and energy, One in particular really loved the kids and job (actually teared up at back to school describing how special the kids were- I mean yeah they're great but nothing to cry about), some of the approaches they learn now in regards to reading and math skills are amazing and they were both really versed in new techniques, and they incorporated technology in a really smart and seamless way.

Overall we thought it was terrific at the end of the year. As parents we just learned not to get too excited or worried when she raised concerns over minor issues at the beginning of the year (we had a "situation" where son forgot his jacket several times in the fall and she was concerned he would freeze to death in 50 degree weather or that maybe he had a failure to follow directions when he, like a lot of kids, just didn't like wearing his jacket and was still warm enough in a hoodie).

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds18 had a brand new teacher in the first grade, and she was awesome! He had her again in 3rd, her first year teaching 3rd, and he was so happy. At our elementary, it's a combination of the previous year's teachers making recommendations, the new teacher either wanting or big wanting students (mostly based on parents - lol), and parent requests (not allowed, usually fulfilled). I had 5 kids go through elementary, I was a parent there for 14 years, so I was privy to some information not widely known.