Sometimes I wonder...
... did I make a big mistake? Am I cut out to teach? I certainly picked a doozy for my first teaching job. I know I say this a lot, but two grades and two languages is TOUGH. I put in 12 hours every Sunday just to be ready for the week and I'm STILL never ready enough. I have classroom management issues and parents asking why their kids are in trouble. I have parents asking about spelling, math and reading, and can you put my 2nd grader in 3rd grade math? Four kids get pulled out for reading help at this time on these days, this student gets pulled out for math, reading and writing every day except only half a day on Fridays, these kids go to ALP on yet other days at other times... I don't know who's going where and when half the time! I'm exhausted, I'm overwhelmed, I'm grumpy. And I haven't mentioned all the paperwork yet! Grading, fill out this form and that form, informal assessments, class notes, student observations, don't forget to enter your grades into the online system, turn in your lesson plans, attend faculty meetings, curriculum meetings, grade level meetings... Can't call in sick, can't take a day off, can't even find time to pee sometimes!
So sometimes I wonder... did I make a big mistake?
4 comments:
You did NOT make a mistake...you sound perfect for the job...you have a great sense I humor (I teach secondary, therefore, I go pee with the bells).
I wish I could lend some advice, but my day is similar, but, so different. Just hang in there, it sounds like you are doing an amazing job.
Natalie
Wow... does your post bring back memories! I spend the first 2 months of my teaching career wondering WHAT THE HECK I HAD DONE. I was miserable! I went back to school to make this career change, and yet I felt like a total failure. Paperwork up to my eyeballs, I was sick, disorganized, and felt terribly ineffective with the kids.
I can't tell you how different things will feel for you by this time next year. As a matter of fact, they will feel different in a couple of months. For now, just do what you can, try and take care of yourself, and hang on for Thanksgiving. It will get SO much easier for you, I promise.
PS - I took one of those killer first year jobs as well... but now I am absolutely in love with what I do each day. You will make it!
I can't tell you how much I appreciate both of you sharing your experiences. I really does help to hear that other teachers went through the same things... Thank you thank you thank you!
Are you a second grade teacher in your first year? I teach second grade. This is my 25 year of teaching. I would love to talk. Just let me know if you would like to visit. You will be fine!!! The first year is the pits and there will be others that are the pits also. But there will be many rewards and good times. Maybe I can share some ideas. The parents are the main problem just dealt with three on Thurs. and sometimes you can literally have some CRAZY ones.
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