I feel like I am not normal. While you are in college and student teaching I always thought we were supposed to have tons of energy and creative new ideas. I did at the beginning of college. Now that I am 2 months from graduating I just don't care anymore. I don't care about coming up with creative lessons in my student teaching placement. I also take a seminar class once a week and I put off all assignments for the class. I do the assignments but not as well as I could. I used to care so much about grades and putting forth 100% effort. But now I just don't care. I just want to graduate and be done with college. I'm totally burned out from my methods courses and student teaching. I get high anxiety from the tons of stuff I have to do. I love kids, but I'm to the point where I just want to be done. The passion I once had for teaching is gone. I really didn't think this burn out happened during student teaching. I thought that came years after teaching.
I am also 2 months away from graduation and I am spent!! I used to be so excited and energetic about teaching, I couldn't wait to get into a classroom and have fun. Now that I am here I just feel like I can't do it anymore. I think that there is a BIG difference between student teaching and teaching. We have to do SO MUCH extra stuff that just drains us. I know from my own experience that I would have more time and energy to put into my lessons if it wasn't for all the college stuff i have to do! Also, worrying about applications, resume's, etc... We will have the summer to recuperate and September will be a fresh start.
I was in your boat last fall. I was always a perfectionist in everything I did for school, but I admit that I started letting things slide at the end of my second placement. Of course I still did good work and planned good lessons for my kids, but I put a lot of other things on the back burner.
You'll get through it. I had the same feelings as you towards the end. Except for the last week, where I cried like a baby because it was actually over and I knew I would miss it.
I remember feeling this way when I was student teaching, I felt like I was working two full time jobs, student teaching, and fulfilling requirements for methods classes, or my student teaching seminar class. It was a lot. In one way, once you graduate, and you have your own classroom you will probably get your energy back, and you'll be excited about setting up your own classroom. However, let me also warn you, and sorry to be a downer, but like Randy Jackson says, I'm just keepin it real. Being less than energized in this job won't change once you get your first teaching job. Your going to have the demands of paperwork, and meetings, and it has a tendency to drain you. I just wanted to be honest with you, because I was not prepared for the demands I would have as a teacher, my student teaching was very different from what I was dealing with when I first went into teaching. No one ever told me how difficult it was going to be or all the "extra" things I would have to do. Goodluck, I hope you are able to make this profession your life's work, because I'm one of those people who have decided that I can no longer continue in this profession.
I am so worn out! I'm on spring break now and dread going back, knowing I still have 7 weeks left. During my first semester of student teaching I got to school early and stayed late. I planned for hours on the weekend. This semester I still arrive early, but I'm quick to leave. I plan, but not in as much detail as I did. I think my loss of enthusiasm has a lot to do with the classroom I'm in. I went from a very sweet, fun, appreciative 4th grade class to a not-so-sweet 5th grade class. BUT, it's almost over! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I am TOTALLY with you. I used to have such a passion for teaching. I loved working with children and LOVED coming up with engaging lesson plans for my students. I, too, only have too months to graduation and I feel like they are NEVER going to end. My passion for teaching has died out, too, but I think it is because I am trying to find a job, finish up with school, and apply for grad school. I swear I hope the rest of the semester ends on a good note because I'm fed up with it, too. I didn't think you could get burnt out on teaching during your internship either, but obviously it is more common that what we both expected. I am going to take the advice of the PP who said that we will have the summer to relax and get fresh before next year!
While I am not a college kid.. I understand completely. I am a 50 year old alternative certification Student teacher and I find my self absolutely brain dead and tired beyond belief all of the time. Luckily my family understands (I have 2 teenagers and a march madness addicted hubby at home) Spring break... I slept!!!!! and did laundry.
Oh something good about being a student teacher for a spastic CT and demanding Supervisor in a kindergarten setting. I have lost nearly 35 pounds in the past 7 weeks!
I am also feeling burnout. Graduation in 2009 was supposed to be an exciting time. Now, with the economy looking so bleak, there may not even be a job at the end. I try to focus on the children in the classroom and their needs. If it were not for my super cooperating teacher, I do not know what I would do.
Boy was I relieved to read your post. I started my ST with such a great attitude - overplanned very creative lessons, the mentor teacher just loved it. Then something happened a few weeks ago and I just dropped the ball. Now I go by the textbook and am just trying to make it to the end. This is my second career and I hope that this semester doesn't mean that I will feel this way when I have my own classroom. I think being under constant "supervision" just wears a person out.
I agree that being under supervision does wear you out. I feel like I'm being constantly watched. I get nervous anyway, and you add to that my mentor teacher and university supervisor watching me do lessons I have high anxiety. I'm fine when I'm just with the kids and don't have to worry about how I am being evaluated. So maybe its just the being watched part of student teaching that stresses me.
I know senior year! Graduation!!! Finding a job!!! boards to take! Senior seminar! Boyfriends girlfriends! Moving home?? Moving out??
All of this is waying heavy on your mind! BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!!
But this is your career! You will be doing this the reast of your life. Spring should be the time to rejuvinate and get more creative. I have been a CT 3 times now. 1\2 way through the placement (spring or fall does not matter when!) the ST always start to get a bit ansy! They are looking for the easy out. They are looking for a quick fix just to get through.
This is when the REAL TEACHER STAND OUT! This is when those that are in it for the right reasons shine through. I had to fail a ST last year for basically shutting down all together. Her plans were sloppy (not detailed as asked far), rushing through with lessons and just giving the students filler work to do, taking days off, that kind of stuff. Well It is hard to give someone more than a D for such stuff. The sad thing is she was A-B material at the beginning and just gave up. She ended up flunking Student Teaching and never graduated. I also heard she IS NOT EVEN IN EDUCATION any longer. So all I am trying say is try to stay focused on what is important here. Look at it as a perpective job!!! (one of my ST was hired at our school weeks after graduation!) You never know. So enjoy your break. and step out of the shadows of majority! There are enough ST out there just doing the minimum to get by: SO STAND OUT !!! Do more give that 100% to the very end! Your CT and your supervisor will notice and that is how you get that job. Hann in there and don't let spring fever destroy what you ahve worked 4 years to get! Good luck!
OUr culture makes student teaching way too difficult...no wonder people drop out, leave the profession, etc. It's very bad for your health. Is it worth playing the game? Yes, it's for the kids but teachers are becoming walking doormats...unless you want to go to your grave 10-20 years earlier.. Because I read that so many ST are failing, getting sloppy, burning out and all the rest, this should be a red flag...just think of all the people that could have been groomed to be great teachers that are now lost and probably totally depressed over their failure....does anyone out there see how crazy and brainwashed education has made us??? Something is wrong with this picture in our education system.
03-18-2009, 09:30 PM
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