Frustrated...Any new teachers out there?

[MrsPete]

Uggh. I come home crying eveyday. My husband makes me suck it up and go back the next day. I am so depressed I have not eaten in two days.

STOP everything right now. It's the weekend. Take care of yourself. Eat a couple good meals and get some sleep. If you don't, you really won't make it through the year.

I use "whiteboards" too, but I get plastic plates from the Dollar store (you have to get the right kind, though-smooth plastic) 4/$1. For less than $10, the kids have their own plate, that lasts at least half the year. I do buy the more expensive dry erase markers, though, because the ones at the Dollar store wouldn't rub off easily.

Another inexpensive idea: Go to the hardware store and buy the white backing boards that're meant to go behind tile. They'll cut it for you into whatever size you want. MUCH less expensive than buying individual boards, and they'll last forever.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Like the others said, my first year was so hard. I cried a lot in the first couple of months. I always felt overwhelmed and felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. I am now starting my 4th year teaching Kindergarten and each year has gotten better and better. I love going to work each day and am so glad I stuck with it. There were definitely days that I didnt know how I was going to go back to work the next day.

Also, like another poster said, I would suggest Harry Wong's books. Our district sent the new teachers to see him and he was amazing to listen to. Hang in there!

 

[Tistal]

You have to stop and take care of yourself because you're going to get sick (I didn't read all the replies, so if this was mentioned already my apologies). You are going to be exposed to a lot of new germs. Unfortunately, you're going to pick up a lot of bugs this year, but it will be even worse if you're run down.

Like many others I'm sure have mentioned, you have to prioritize and conquer otherwise you'll burn yourself out (sounds like that's what's happening). The students will know if you're burnt out, and some of them will take advantage of it.

 

[Sandy61]

It's o.k. to be o.k. You don't have to be perfect. Do the best you can for them and then take care of yourself.

Try to see them as individual people and try to find something to like about each of them. They will respond to you better if you seem confident and seem to enjoy what you do. Laugh with them. Share yourself a little and learn about them.

Laugh about what happens when you sit in the teacher's lounge. There will be things to laugh about.

Find a teacher to talk to. See which ones respond to you when you share a little bit. Then share a little bit more. Ask questions and don't be too self conscious about your weaknesses right now. You are supposed to be asking for help right now.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

hang in there - only 2 more weeks and then you get labor day to breathe!

12 years here, but lots of new positions and levels along the way, so I have been a "first year" more than once. Just take it one day at a time. Don't feel like you have to do every exciting lesson you've ever dreamed every day. Just be present with the kids and let them be a part of everything; have them share their thoughts, make the posters for the room, questions for the quizzes, etc.

Come up with one tradition or activity that makes the day fun for you and the kids. For example there's a teacher I work with that has tallies on the board for "blonde moments"; when she makes a mistake, the kids are allowed to respectfully call her out on it (misspells a word, says the wrong date, etc.). She tallies each "moment" and the kids earn a group reward after so many are on the board.

Good luck and keep us updated!

 

[dimimi]

Please take some time to relax and regroup this weekend. It is good your husband makes you go back to work the next day! Don't even let not going back be an option.

Right now work on classroom management. Make your lessons interesting, but first work on classroom management and save your creative and maybe less structured activities for later in the year. Using the methods described in some of the posts, for example, if you can hear me clap once...or if you can hear me clap twice, etc. will get the student's attention without you yelling.

Try positive reinforcement. Play a quick 5 minute game of Bingo at the end of the day to reward their good behavior, etc. Try and vary your lessons, maybe find a 15 minute curriculum appropriate movie for Science or Social Studies to vary your day.

Find a way to connect with your most difficult students. If you can see they are hyper, let them move around. Let your difficult students "help" you with things...they will love it.

I hope some of my ideas help. I had taught for 10 years in a suburban school and then married and moved to an inner city school. It was really rough, even after teaching for so long! I understand what you are going through and your job is tough for any teacher, especially a first year teacher.

 

[Sandy61]

Some more specific ideas...

Turn off the lights and read one of those really good books to them after lunch or recess even if for 5 - 10 minutes. They will look forward to hearing what happens the next day. I used this as a substitute teacher when the class was wild. I would whip out a book and we would all sit on the floor in a circle while I read to them. Worked great.

Use music. If they can work quietly once or twice a day you will turn on the radio. You get to choose the station or cd. Or maybe let one of them choose a cd from your stack if they are being good. They will be quiet to hear the music.

Tell them a joke every morning to relax everyone and to give them a reason to sit down and listen to you. I used to tell jokes before every test. I even had them do jumping jacks when they had to sit for a really long time. Or simon says.

 

[yesiamcrazy]

OP: I know you said no mentors due to budget cuts, but it doesn't have to be an "official" mentor assigned to and/or paid for by the school. Just some experienced teacher willing to answer questions, help you out, and give suggestions. MOST teachers WANT to help others. (If the first one you ask is not one of those, ask another.)

And yes RELAX some on the weekend. Recharge your batteries.

 

[Debbie]

STOP everything right now. It's the weekend. Take care of yourself. Eat a couple good meals and get some sleep. If you don't, you really won't make it through the year.
Another inexpensive idea: Go to the hardware store and buy the white backing boards that're meant to go behind tile. They'll cut it for you into whatever size you want. MUCH less expensive than buying individual boards, and they'll last forever.

Thanks for the description. Everyone just says 'shower board' and that can't be what it is called here in my part of Canada. I asked once and got a . NOW I'll know what I want!

OP: I know you said no mentors due to budget cuts, but it doesn't have to be an "official" mentor assigned to and/or paid for by the school. Just some experienced teacher willing to answer questions, help you out, and give suggestions. MOST teachers WANT to help others. (If the first one you ask is not one of those, ask another.)And yes RELAX some on the weekend. Recharge your batteries.

We've never had money for mentors, but my co-worker still calls me hers. I took her by the hand that first year, and we continue to bounce ideas off of each other-10 years later! Everyone needs someone in the know to help with the day to day routines that we oldsters do without thinking! Good luck, and it IS the weekend. Take a break!

 

[flateacher]

OP: I hope you come back and check the boards for the great ideas. I agree with all of them! Some recaps in bullet points:

• Establish classroom management - they can't learn if they aren't paying attention
• Harry Wong -1st Days of School -establish procedures for EVERYTHING - it hleps make things run smoother - also helps with classroom management
• Shower Boards from Home Depot/Lowes - individually cut - I even use them with 8th graders.
• Grade some assignments as completion grades. Then have them check their own paper and make the corrections. This helps them understand what they got wrong and why. Also cuts down on your grading time.

If you could give us more specifics we can give you more advice. We might not be in the same school but we can be your online mentors. There seems to be a great resource here on the boards. Just ask and we will help!

If you just touch ONE life in your classroom all year - and make a difference in ONE child - won't it be worth it? Tell yourself this everyday and find that child's face and look at it - I know there are children in your class who LOVE you and are happy you are their teacher - because if not you who?

 

[dhdozier]

OP - Just wanted to chime in that as a 18 yr veteran teacher I too wanted to quit my first year. I had a admin who was super hateful and made you feel as though you were less than a professional for needing any help or guidance, a group of students that had needs well beyond my beginning ability of classroom management (several were expelled for MAJOR disciplinary infractions only a few years after I had them), and I was struggling with personal issues because I had begun work in a town 4 hours away from where my fiance was still in college. My mom is also a teacher and knew how discouraged I was so she helped as much as possible, but I think the best help came from Harry Wong's boo - the sections on teaching procedures and ways to save time are invaluable. I add one thing that I ddin't see mentioned, if you feel strongly that teaching is just not for you by the end of the year - remember that you do have other options for jobs where you can use your education. It is a terrible thing to feel that you are "stuck" with a job that makes you miserable. I hope that your year does end on a brighter note and you decide teaching is your calling, but if not I hope that another door of opportunity opens.

 

[Disfan3]

I am unclear why teachers think that they are the only profession who arrives early, stays late, takes work home, etc.

They are, however, the only profession I know who get an hour of "planning time" paid for and the only profession who gets off early when it's hot, when it's snowing, or the day before a holiday.

The teachers here work 180 student days, and 3 professional development days. We'll assume they work the PD days for free, since I don't get extra pay for Saturday conferences, workshops, etc., and what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

I don't think anyone ever said we are the ONLY profession....I just think we are defending ourselves from the "teachers work only 7 hours a day...." belief. Don't know what state you are in but with three professional days for educators, I would love to see student achievement data and teachers' level of education in your state...We work 195 days a year and get paid for exactly that...195 days. My husband works in banking, gets 1 hour lunches, at times paid and at times catered! He also gets time and a half when he works over 8 hours a day. Teachers do not get over time pay. We could sit here all day and debate the differences. That is not what this thread is about.

To the OP: Your first year will be INCREDIBLY stressful. There is a lot to learn; a lot you are not taught, in college, about the TRUE art of education. My biggest piece of advice is not to take things home with you...no, I don't mean actual, physical work. I mean emotional and stressful baggage. Don't own other people's problems. A teacher is a human, just like a doctor, a banker a store clerk, what have you...while it is a passion of mine and I am very happy to be working where I am, it is not my life. I am a teacher of others at school and when I get home, I am a mom and wife Focus that time on your family and you. You will eventually get "warm fuzzies...(notes or letters or emails)" from students, parents and colleagues. COLLECT THOSE. Keep them with you and close to you and every time you doubt yourself or your abilities...LOOK at them!!!

I would also seriously take stock in why you decided to go into education. 49 thousand is a great salary but it's not so great if the effect of the job is creating havoc in your life. Nothing is worth that.

Don't know about your state but we work snow days and if we don't, we make them up at the end of the calendar year...I believe you are using a lot of generalizations in your post without really knowing the profession; my profession. I won't assume to know the job of a plumber, lawyer, auto mechanic, etc. so I would appreciate the same due respect.

 

[Zydebearsmom]

Op here

Thank you for the advice. You guys have given me some great ideas. I brought a ton of work home with me today but I plan to have a get organize party so I can hopefully have a better week. It is good to hear that things will get better. Thanks again.

 

[MrsPete]

Op here

Thank you for the advice. You guys have given me some great ideas. I brought a ton of work home with me today but I plan to have a get organize party so I can hopefully have a better week. It is good to hear that things will get better. Thanks again.

Working on organizing yourself is a great goal -- in the long run, it will save you time . . . but the big benefits won't pay off 'til next year . . . next year when you DON'T have to re-write a unit on ____ or re-write a quiz on _____.

However, as important as organizing is, set a time limit for yourself. Someone else commented that with teaching you're "never done". I understand this sentiment completely! You put together an activity, but you say to yourself that it could be a little better if you found a good news article as a follow-up to the lesson, then you think it'd be better still if you tossed in a simple art project . . . and it eats up all your time. At this point, you have to accept that you can only do what you can do THIS YEAR. You'll always think, "I should put together a great Smart Board presentation for the intro to this unit", or "I really should re-type that messy test." Whatever you do, it could always be a little better, a little more polished, the verbage a little improved. You CAN'T do it all this year. So work for ___ amount of time, and then let it be.

So set yourself a time limit -- a limit that'll allow you time for yourself, for your marriage, for your health. Otherwise you'll burn out, and that benefits no one.

Also, at some point you'll find yourself ahead. Recognize that this may be brief, and take advantage of it. When you get ahead, write yourself a couple days of "emergency plans". These'd be something that you can pull out of the drawer on the day that you're half-way sick, the day after the evening when you just couldn't do your planning -- it may be a bit disjointed and won't flow well with the rest of your lessons, but that's okay. It's better than having nothing. Xerox the copies you'll need, put together all the materials, and keep it in a corner of your desk. You'll feel a bit better knowing that you have these "emergency lessons" ready.

On the other hand, one of the big things I LOVE about teaching is that there IS an end -- that's not something that most workers get. No matter how far behind you fall, the semester will end. No matter how tough things are, this class will end, you'll finalize their grades and be done with them. And then you get a new, fresh beginning again for the next semester. I enjoy beginnings and ends -- but I flounder in the middle.

 

[december]

That's amazing money. You work 7 hours a day, 180 days a year... That's almost $39 an hour! To be making that with no experience is phenomenal! Lucky you.

My official worday is from 7:15 am until 3:15 pm, which is 8 hours. I don't get a lunch break, I spend 20 min in the cafeteria surrounded by students. My planning pd is not free time. And I know few teachers who work just those hours.

I am unclear why teachers think that they are the only profession who arrives early, stays late, takes work home, etc.

They are, however, the only profession I know who get an hour of "planning time" paid for and the only profession who gets off early when it's hot, when it's snowing, or the day before a holiday.

The teachers here work 180 student days, and 3 professional development days. We'll assume they work the PD days for free, since I don't get extra pay for Saturday conferences, workshops, etc., and what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

We aren't the only professionals who do those things, but we are among the few who do it while constantly being told that we are lucky to make such great money for working part time. You don't have a clue....

OP, I just started my 15th year as a teacher, and I had to learn this lesson the hard way this morning. After over 10 yrs of being seizure free, I collapsed in the kitchen this morning, and my dd11 found me in the middle of a seizure. I have a knot on my head, a sore chin (I think I hit the high chair on the way down) and I bit my tongue and it hurts so bad! I moved from high school to 7th grade this year, and I've been working from 7am until 5pm at school, then staying up as late as 1am grading papers and planning lessons. My 50 min planning pd has been used for meetings 7 of the 9 school days, and I've had afterschool meetings almost every day. Even my principal told me to stop working so hard. My body forced me to agree to that today.

I have to take a breath and find balance. I won't be bringing work home from this point on. I will be staying from 7 until 4:30, and what doesn't get done won't get done. The meetings should be calming down now, and I am getting more comfortable with the 7th grade curriculum and the kids.

As for the white boards, a cheaper, lighter alternative is to take card stock, stick it in a page protector, add a sheet of graph paper to the back for math, stick a piece of felt (cut up a yard into pieces) in it, and add a dry erase marker. 30 of those won't cost much, but as a pp said, splurge on the markers. The cheap ones are cheap for a reason....

 

[MrsPete]

We aren't the only professionals who do those things, but we are among the few who do it while constantly being told that we are lucky to make such great money for working part time. You don't have a clue....

That's it in a nutshell!

As for the white boards, a cheaper, lighter alternative is to take card stock, stick it in a page protector, add a sheet of graph paper to the back for math, stick a piece of felt (cut up a yard into pieces) in it, and add a dry erase marker. 30 of those won't cost much, but as a pp said, splurge on the markers. The cheap ones are cheap for a reason....

I forgot that trick! It's a great budget way to make white boards, and you can store them in a notebook. The negative is that they're SMALL. It's important to buy the heavy quality page protectors, and make sure they're the SMOOTH type, not the ones with a bit of roughness to them.

 

[december]

On the other hand, one of the big things I LOVE about teaching is that there IS an end -- that's not something that most workers get. No matter how far behind you fall, the semester will end. No matter how tough things are, this class will end, you'll finalize their grades and be done with them. And then you get a new, fresh beginning again for the next semester. I enjoy beginnings and ends -- but I flounder in the middle.

This to me is the greatest part of teaching. I don't have to work for 30 plus years to get a fresh start. I get a fresh start, new faces, new goals, every fall. My year is broken down into 5 10 week sessions, and all of them bring a chance for new beginnings, new goals.

OP, in my 15 yrs of teaching, I've quit twice. I worked 3 yrs, quit and kept kids in my home for a year (had my own 1 yr old), went back for 2 more years, quit and became a stock broker for a year, and I've been back in the classroom ever since. It will get easier.

 

[findmewdw]

Just want to chime in on this thread. I am in my 22nd year of teaching. I remember my first few years were very difficult and I kept my kitchen table cluttered with plans and textbooks all the time. My husband and my mom would spend weekends in my classroom trying to help me because I was so stressed! I feel your pain. I want you to know that it does get better! I read through some of these posts and it sounds like you have received tons of great advice. I agree that you have to make yourself realize that it's your first year and it won't be perfect! Try to prioritize what's most important for the kids. Heck, after 22 years, I still have to make myself leave my classroom in the afternoon. I could stay until midnight and still have things I could do. There's always some intro that would make my lesson cooler or something that might help a certain child. . . My hubby isn't nearly as nice now after 22 years, he doesn't like to spend weekends in my classroom either! Hey, my kitchen table serves as a table now, too. (Except for the week before school!) There will be wonderful rewarding moments! Try to enjoy them and this year will pass quickly! Best of luck!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

First year teacher and you are making close to $49k.. you are not working in FL then... that should make you feel better... they start out over $10K less than you.... and have the same stress... did that help???

it will get easier in time.. and you will grow to love your job..

 

[ekatiel]

OP HERE

Well I work in the inner city so that is one reason my salary is high, also I have a Masters Degree. I am working everyday from 7:00 am until 5:30 pm. Then I come home and continue to work from 7:00pm until 12:30 am. I am so burnt out but I cannot seem to catch up or even get ahead. I am also working on weekends trying to catch up. I am just so exhausted. I only get planning time 3 days a week. Wednesday it is for 30 min. and Thursday and Friday it is for 1 hour. Mentor teachers are unavailable due to budget cuts. My colleagues have been very helpful but they have their own classrooms that they have to worry about. Also my students are unruly and could careless if I call their parents. Uggh. I come home crying eveyday. My husband makes me suck it up and go back the next day. I am so depressed I have not eaten in two days.

I also recommend The First Days of School book. Also, Teaching With Love and Logic is an AWESOME discipline resource. It's all about avoiding power struggles with kids, empathizing with them, making them think about their own problems and delivering logical consequences. It really works like magic on kids. I highly recommend both these books. --Katie