Group Forums >> Elementary Teachers Unite >> A Little Discouraged
A Little Discouraged
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Posted 3 months ago I just finished a long-term position in a Second Grade classroom and I am a bit discouraged about Elementary Education. It was truly the longest month of my life. Has anyone ever felt so discouraged you just wanted to quit? What kept you going? |
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| Posted 2 months ago Why are you feeling so discouraged? |
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| Posted 2 months ago Well the situation is probably what was getting to me. The teacher left the classroom the first week in April, right after Spring Break. The kids didn't know until they came back to find both of us in the classroom. The kids knew who I was from the drug prevention program I did with them in the Winter, but that's about it. The boy to girl ratio was very uneven, 15 boys, 6 girls, and I had a new student on top of that. I couldn't even get through my lessons because I had to "put out fires" all day long. The problem is that I haven't had any formal Classroom Management classes (those come later in the career switcher program) and I had a rough bunch. After my month of trials and tribulations I was reassigned back to my old job, and the sub taking over the classroom stepped right in and handled the rowdy bunch. Ok, he was a retired teacher with over 30 years under his belt...not to mention he was so tall the kids had to look up to him, but he walked right in and handled the class as if he had them all year. Everyone (teachers and such) keep telling me not to take it personal and that I did the best I could with what I had, but I can't help feeling discouraged. |
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| Posted 2 months ago Teaching a new class and a new situation can be frustrating- I totally understand. But it was a learning experience, right? Class management does get easier over time. It sounds like part of the problem was that you came into the class and the teacher hadn't prepared the students (or you) properly to take over the class. Class management isn't a one-size-fits-all plan. Every class that you teach in your career will be different, so you'll have to try many different strategies to figure out what works. Watching experienced teachers is a great tool, too. What did the sub say or do to the class that was different from what you were trying? Don't give up! TheApple knows managing your class is tough, so we've put together tons of articles that may help. Go to the Managing Your Classroom articles now. |
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| Posted 2 months ago I empathize with your frustration and discouragement, Wendy, but you did the best you could and that is all anyone can ask. In my first year I had four different jobs in succession in the same school. The last was as the sixth teacher that year in a class of emotionally disturbed students who did everything they could to make sure they would need a seventh teacher. I managed to finish the year with them, but I was so shell-shicked I vegetated almost the whole summner to recover. If you can, talk to the teacher who took over for you to see if you can pick up any pointers on classroom management from him/her.
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| Posted 2 months ago I think all of us can emphathize with your situation. We've all been there at one time or another. Where's the silver lining in all this? Well at least you flopped in front of a bunch of kids and not adults...which is what I do when I flop! Move on! That's all you can do. Learn from past mistakes. (So far all of the respondents gave excellent advice). Take a class or find a mentor. I don't work with children but when my youngest kid was in preschool, I volunteered and got a gazillion (real word) tips on how to motivate children to listen. Find a good teacher and ask if you can shadow them. Whenever I was down on myself, my mother used to say (and still does) "Well I guess there's no where else to go but up!" She was usually right. Truth is, one day you'll look back at this and see how far you've come. Stop kicking yourself and give yourself a pat on the back for trying! |
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| Posted 2 months ago Thanks for all of the great advice everyone. I really appreciate it. |
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| Posted about 1 month ago I was a long term sub for the last two months of school for a fourth grade. They were very noisy. I ended up changing their seats to a u-shape as they were sitting in small groups. I would suggest next time reviewing some common classroom proceedures - bathroom, quiet time, reading time, etc. Let them know how YOU want the classroom run. Set up some strong procedures - like what happens when they enter the class in the am (unpack, place lunch order, sharpen 2 pencils, do morning work, silent reading, etc.). Try that - it will make your life easier. |
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| Posted 26 days ago
just a bit frustrated.. |
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| Posted 26 days ago hi wendy, i'm joyz... devin, jill and bobblehead's reply really enlighten yuo now right? just hang in there be strong, firm and pray... you are doing fine c",) cheer up now...
c",)
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| Posted 25 days ago You have every right to feel discouraged. However, you need to remember that you had taken over a long term position, and therefore were not the regular teacher. Children are funny, they will act differently with a year round teacher, than they would with a substitute. When I went on maternity leave for 6 months, my class acted completely different from how they acted when I was in the classroom. YOU have to realize that as a year round teacher, YOU make your own classroom managament, YOU make your own classroom schedule, YOUmake the classroom decisions. This is much harder to do when you are entering upon someone else's "territiory" as a long term substitute. |
