I'm currently working on my master's, and I would love to have a teaching job for next fall, if I can find one (thank you, economy!). I have to say that as I read through the Proteacher site, most of what I see is griping. People absolutely hate their jobs! Nothing is good, everything is terrible, get out now while the getting's good. Is there ANYONE out there who likes teaching? Who finds it a rewarding career? Who's figured out a way to cope with the workload and stresses and live a reasonable life? I sure don't see 'em. I can't tell whether teaching is actually a really rotten profession or whether (sorry) teachers are just whiners. Things aren't very rosy in other fields, either. This comes from someone who was laid off after having been laid off and then rehired at one-sixth the hours, having been given a desk of my own (after four years!) only to have it summarily taken from me two months later for someone else, and repeated snubs by management and co-workers. I know that everyone's situation is different, and that some schools and districts are really difficult places to work. But surely education isn't universally an awful profession... is it? Would you all please comment on what makes this a great profession and offer concrete, useful suggestions on how to manage the demands? And if I'm wrong, please tell me why it's a profession to avoid--or how you would change things if you could. Honestly, I can't decide whether I'm pursuing a great career or should just avoid the whole friggin' thing.
I absolutely love my job! Is it difficult? Yes. Especially in these days of high-stakes testing.
Teaching is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in thirty second intervals! (Especially if you teach in a tough district.)
I think you see a lot of negatives on the vent board because no one can understand the frustrations of teachers unless they've walked a mile in our shoes. It's a very unique profession. (Plus, spouses and family members get tired of hearing about school.)
Advice about balance? Well, I'm still searching for balance. The things that help me to relax are: trying to exercise, not thinking about school all day on Saturdays and just enjoying my family, being fully prepared for the week (for school and for home), having a good support system of other teachers to "vent" with, and keeping the fridge stocked with wine!
The pay is generally crappy - especially if you dare to think about the hours you put in and the education you are required to have.
The hours are long.
It's hard to "let go" when you're talking about youngsters and their futures.
It is undervalued by a large segment of the population.
You can't have 20+ students in a classroom and not have some difficulties through the year whether it's a challenging student (or three) or a challenging parent (or four) or challenging administrative issues. These difficulties don't disappear quickly - you are in it for the long haul - generally an entire school year. When you get one of those school years where you have all of those things - it's a struggle.
When you are underpaid and undervalued and working long hours, and dealing with difficulties you tend to feel a lot of stress and that can lead to griping in the one place where you can gripe. You don't want to gripe at work - that would be unprofessional. You don't want to gripe to your family - they don't need that. So you come to PT and gripe or perhaps you gripe in the teacher's lounge with your colleagues. Everybody needs to let it out somewhere.
All of that being said, I love what I do and I do it with pride. I love my students - every last difficult one of them. I believe that what I am doing is important, and so I do it. I think a lot of teachers are like that. We do what we do despite all the things I listed above, because we know it's important and because the kids matter to us a great deal.
Life is messy. It just is. I wake up at 6 a.m. and hit the ground running to get my teenage son off to school, my classroom ready, the kids taught, the paperwork done, the classroom put back together again, the phone calls made, the resources gathered, the dinner fixed, the son's homework checked, the husband kissed, the son properly mothered, the lunches made, the laundry folded, the papers graded. I generally get to go bed at around 11:30 p.m. That's as balanced as life gets. Throw in a broken hot water heater (who is going to call the repair man? when?), a sick son (should I take tomorrow off? I better stay up late and write lesson plans and drive them in at 7 a.m. so the sub has them in time!), a parent teacher conference that gave you a headache, or a dog that just peed on the sofa, and you're out of balance.
But that's life.
So you should decide whether or not you can afford to be a teacher - and whether or not you can afford not to be a teacher. The price is high, but I personally couldn't afford NOT to be a teacher. It's too important. That doesn't mean the price isn't still high, though.
I love my job...a lot!! I love working with kids, their families and my co-workers...so don't think that teachers hate their jobs-I think for the most part, they don't. But...it is a stressful job and you can tell by reading all the posts. We spend our whole professional life taking classes, getting degrees, attending professional development and-sometimes-we are treated as if we don't know what we are doing-we are yanked around by administration, curriculum, state and federal testing, parent demands, students with a multitude of problems and often do this with very little support. So, we have good and bad days-just like most other professions. If you like people-it is a great profession!
Manage the demands by taking very good care of yourself!
You said yourself that every profession has stuff to gripe about. And, if those professions have message boards for griping, what do you think you'll read there?
I agree that teaching is a very demanding, stressful profession. Does that mean that people shouldn't become teachers? No, of course not! However, if you aren't dedicated to it or don't get the right support, you'll want to get out quick.
Many times a week I tell myself "there has to be an easier way to earn money." And many times I week I tell myself, "I can't believe I get paid to do this!"
Well, you are posting on the Vent page . . . which is where people go when they need to gripe. I don't see that on the other pages. Plus, people have a tendency to want advise about things that go wrong instead of just talking about things that go well.
Well, I think one thing to keep in mind is you are on the Vent board so people are going to be venting about issues.
On the whole, I LOVE my job. I have managed to find a good balance between work and life (at the beginning of the year it tilts towards work, but that is to be expected).
Sure, there are things I don't like-we have a new superintendent imposing things I HATE, but admin comes and goes and she will be gone soon so I am just waiting out the storm. Some days are easier than others. If you are in a building with people you like and a principal you respect the kids an parents come and go.
I LOVE the challenges the job brings and each day is new and different. I LOVE the challenge of trying to reach the kids (although some days the challene is overwhelming). I have found a way to (for the most part) leave it at school and accept that there is only so much I can (that part is crucial. If you can't do that, this job will eat you alive). I have also given myself permission to accept that I can't give 110% each and everyday and be ok with that.
Like any job, it has its pros and cons. And, like every job you are not going to love it everyday. If you go in to teaching thinking you will, you're in for a rude awakening. For the most part, I LOVE it. I have gone through good and bad times and come out stronger for it.
I hope this helps and addresses some of your concerns.
Teaching is certainly a rewarding career, but yes it's very demanding. Sounds like your previous job was not so rosy, as you said. If you're spending a lot of time on "The Vent" you probably are seeing the frustrating side, but as audriana said many of us have families that get tired of hearing our complaints, so the best place to get an open ear is on here!
No matter what job you have, teaching or otherwise, you always have days where you want to throw in the towel. Maybe it was a student who talked back to you, maybe a parent did not see things your way, maybe your principal is not supportive, and maybe your colleagues are not friendly and sharing.
Even with the bad days thrown in, I love my job, I've always wanted to be a teacher, and never really saw myself doing anything else. I try to enjoy time with my family, do things for myself (shopping! ), and use at least a few of my breaks to get ahead.
I know a lot of teachers right now might not be pleased with their current class, school, or district but might feel "stuck" because of the recent budget cuts & bad economy. In the past maybe they would have been more likely to try to transfer to another grade, district, etc. Another thing that is adding to stress right now is that many teachers are in the middle of conferences & end-of-grading period.
Don't jump in too quickly. Make sure teaching is what you really want to do. It's more than a job, though, it's a lifestyle!
Is the pay and the fact that there's no way to increase my pay, no matter how hard I work, how well the kids do, or how pleased my admin is with me.
I like what I do, but in the past couple of years it's become more and more difficult to wrap my head around the fact that with 15 years' experience, 10 years on my license, a Master's degree and near-perfect evaluations I am barely making more than $40,000/year. Plus, our benefits are being eroded and last school year our pay was cut - I hear that this year it will be the same. Plus, more and more is expected of us in terms of meetings, after-school requirements, etc.
I'm in NC, which is known for poor pay, if that helps.
This will be my last year. I can see that if I stay I will become bitter and slide into mediocrity...
m
Tangerine you summed it all up perfectly! guesttoo's things are not always perfect,and you can easily fine the things that are "wrong"- but I would not trade my job for anything- I will embrace each and every child that enters my life (yes even those "difficult" ones) sometimes I am the ONLY stable and consistent part of their life- and I will do my best for each and every one. I feel like to be a "teacher" you must truly want to do it deep in your heart- any less is not enough- good luck in making your decision! And I for one am thankful I found PT- it as the best place to share- EVERYTHING!
Guesttoo, I hope that you noticed that almost none of the vents on this board are directly about children. I think I can safely say that most of us do whatever it takes everyday to ensure the success of our students. Those successes are what make me show up every day to do it again.
Yes, there are stresses and frustrations. Teaching is an isolated profession where many decisions are made for you by someone not in the classroom. Since we can't vent to our students, this is a good place.
Definitely youʻll find more negatives about teaching on the vent board. I see more posts about how many people love the teaching profession, and looking for ideas to become better teachers. I guess itʻs a glass half-full kind of thing.
You and only you can decide if this is a career worth pursuing. We all love the kids (most of the time, at least!), we just might not all love the red tape that comes with it. Iʻm sure if you look at other boards, youʻll see equally disgruntled employees in every profession.
Teaching isnʻt for everyone, but people have to decide for themselves. Itʻd sure be easier if it was just about teaching, though!
I love my job and cannot imagine doing anything else.
I am very lucky to work in a district
*that is not under financial distress and not laying off teachers, but hiring and paying annual raises
*that supports teachers and what they do in the classroom (not cookie cutter teaching)
*that gives teachers money to use in their classroom to enhance learning or to pay for special projects ($500 a year per teacher)
However, I have been known to rant and rave due to the fact I had to work all weekend on my own time to print four page standards based report cards for each of my students (Every teacher and parents hate these report cards!) I also had to print IRI's and AIP's for students that needed them. These names were not given to teachers until right before parent teacher conferences.
I am sitting through effective literacy for the 2ND time hearing the exact same thing I heard the first time. Why? I am not really sure. I think it is a gross waste of time/resources. But they didnt ask me did they?
So do I love teaching? Yes, do I get frustrated? Yes.
Yes, sometimes I do whine and complain, but I do enjoy teaching.
It is not an easy job (there can be so many demands, as we all know), but helping out a student, having wonderful collaboration with fellow teachers, building relationships with my kids, and just plain enjoying wonderful classroom experiences make it all worth it.
I'll share something with ya...I saw a former student a few days ago. I had her when she was about 10 and now she is a junior in high school. She is now a smart, lovely young woman, and she was so happy to see me (of course, it was a joy to see her) and so happy to share all the great things she's been up to. Moments like those are priceless.
I love teaching, and I love my students, but most of the problems you will read on the vent board are issues that most teachers deal with. There are so many things that I've said, done, and felt that I never thought I would until I had my own classroom. It is shocking to see what really creates the biggest challenges for teachers. I think that it may actually be smart to read the vent board, so you can get a look at some of the negative aspects of teaching and learn from others about ways to manage those things, because if you go into teaching you will probably experience many of the same problems. However, be sure to visit other boards as well like the BusyBoard. That's where you'll read about some of the great things about teaching.
I love to teach! Sure, there are days, weeks, months where the road is pretty rocky, but like all jobs we drudge through it. The only thing I really work for are the kids. I think most teachers are this way. If it were for the money, then everyone would be doing it.
Teaching is not an easy job but it is the most rewarding. I love when the light comes on for a child and they fly with that!
I hope you realize that just reading The Vent is not what 90% of our job is. Teachers choose this profession because we want to make a difference. We don't get the acknowledgement right away, but 12 years down the road when we see the child graduate that is the ultimate payment. Knowing we gave another human being a great step-up in life is empowering and keeps me going.
Sometimes just posting a vent allows you the clarity you need to professionally move forward with the situation. It's sometimes used to just get something off your chest. No harm done in doing that and if it allows someone to go forth and have a great day the next day, I see nothing wrong with it.
Teaching is the most challenging and rewarding profession I have had. I've worked in corporate America in small companies and large ones too. Teaching by far is WAY more stressful, yet I also think it offers some of the greatest rewards.
I do think some people just need to leave teaching because all they do is gripe, but that's the same in any field.
First I love my job. Yeah, it's tough somedays. No day is really easy. But there is no better job in the world: helping kids to learn reading, writing, math, citizenship, to teach them the value of hardwork and determination. Sharing their views of the world and fairness. You laugh everyday at work. You make a difference everyday at work. You make a thousand decisions that affect the future everyday!
I think that the vents you hear are not people who do not love teaching. BUt people who want someone to share their hard day with. Your family and friends can not appreciate the highs and lows of this profession. Many of the thngs on the vent board can't be shared anywhere else due to confidentiality concerns.
We're just blowing off steam. The same way others do at the neighborhood watering hole.
Well this is the vent board so this is where people come to complain. I have never been in a staff room like this vent board. People come here to let off steam so to speak and then move on. I think most workers, be they teachers, doctors or store clerks need a place to vent.
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Honestly, I can't decide whether I'm pursuing a great career or should just avoid the whole friggin' thing.
Only you can answer that question. Teaching is a difficult and demanding profession. It is not for the faint-of-heart.
It's great that you are pursuing your master's. That knowledge will never be wasted. But a master's in itself is not adequate preparation for a career in teaching. Nor is a PhD.
There are some important questions to ask yourself if you are questioning your career decision.
How have your student teaching experiences gone?
Did you enjoy working with the kids?
Did you like planning, preparing, and delivering the lessons?
Can you do that day after day for many subjects, year after year? Can you work in atmosphere that may allow very little freedom or decision making?
Are you prepared for the realities of the teaching profession?
The list of important questions is endless and unique to each person.
I'll try to answer your questions. First, though, I want to ask if you are reading the other boards on PT also and finding
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most of what I see is griping
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I believe others have pointed out that this particular board is
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The Vent Need advice? If you're a K-6 teacher, this is a friendly place to speak your mind, share your feelings and experiences, and celebrate the joys and frustrations of teaching. We're listening and ready to help and share!
I believe the joys of teaching are found infrequently on this board because that's not what most people think of when they consider "venting" .
I believe if you will check out The Busy Board or any one of the grade level or academic boards, you will find dedicated teachers working very hard to find just the right lesson to reach his or her students, or a new innovative way to present a concept, or how to manage a new way of teaching reading, math, social studies, science, and on and on.
I was on PT a lot this summer getting ideas from others on how they do things in their classrooms so that I could approach this new school year with 2-3 new activities to keep me and my teaching fresh. I was not disappointed!
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Is there ANYONE out there who likes teaching? Who finds it a rewarding career? Who's figured out a way to cope with the workload and stresses and live a reasonable life?
I not only like teaching, I love it. Teaching children is rewarding to me because I personally love learning and want to pass that on to others. I would love to think that I may have made the difference to a child, that because of something he or she learned in my class they might embrace reading, find a love of math, or any other academic area, or just know that they have worth and someone cares about them.
Figuring out various ways to cope with the workload and stressors is an ongoing project for me because the baggage within the workload and the stressors change from year to year. One thing that is true no matter what is that I believe being organized and on top of paperwork is vital. It is easy for me to get snowed under with it.
Besides being organized and staying on top of the paperwork, coming to a site like PT is one of the most concrete, useful suggestions I could offer to manage the demands. Teachers on PT are up to date with best teaching practices in many instances, and I learn so much from others on here. I learn not only about teaching, but also how to manage the possible mundane chores that can come with any job.
One last thing. Someone else mentioned the isolation of teaching. I think that is one very strong reason so many of us find solace and fun at PT. We are a lot of like-minded people on here, and it's a safe place to share our experiences.
Although I have worked in the business world, I cannot imagine doing anthing other than teaching as my life's work!
I am sick and tired of people who think that teachers should always be smiling and happy. IThis is not the "Sound of Music" and I am NOT BARNEY!!! Sometimes I LOVE my job. But some days, I'd rather be anything BUT a teacher. We have good and bad days just like everyone else.
We are all very aware that other professions "have it hard too". This however, is a teacher's board. I wonder if people go trolling around to other professional boards and do this? I wonder if people go to boards for lawyers or dentists and get upset that they have bad days?
but the pay is not good specially if you consider the number of hours I have to put in to accomplish my job. I love the smiling faces of my students, or the face of an "I got it!". It never gets old. It is a very rewarding job, it just depends of where you land a job.
I too post here because my husband and son are tired of hearing me, and who better to give advice than other teachers. When I have something to gripe about, I come here and post it. My husband would say "see, why don't you get out of this profession" I just could not see myself doing anything other than this, as difficult as administrators, parents and the system tries to make it.
I have to agree with the other posters on this! If you don’t want to read about teachers venting, don’t come to a vent board. Until you are an actual teacher, you just don’t understand what teachers go through. We dedicate our lives (yes LIVES) to help educate and better our children, but it is definitely a thankless profession. People tend to think “Wow, you’re a teacher huh? Must be great playing with kids and getting summers off!” I get paid $40,000 a year and put in about 80 hours of work a week (between planning, parent phone calls, conferences, professional development, etc).
But, I know I make a difference in the lives of my students. Is it stressful? YES!!!!!!! It’s a type of stress that you will not understand until you are an actual teacher. Aside from all the administration drama, jealous workers talking about you, blah….blah…..blah. It’s an entirely different level of stress when you actually love and care for your students and you start brining those feelings home with you. When you sit at home worrying about your students. Being frustrated beccause you can’t reach a certain child.
Listen, put in a good 5 years and tell me what you think then. You will find out that teachers are under appreciated and way under paid! Some days you will think “What am I doing here? This isn’t worth the heartache and frustration”. Then some days you will think “Wow, this is amazing! I love my job!”
It is extremely stressful, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!
Don’t pass judgement until you have actually been in our situations.
Have you gone to the job search board and asked why everyone is writing about their job search? Have you gone to the sped board and asked why everyone is writing about sped issues? What about what all the substitutes are talking about on the substitute board? These are legitimate questions for you because you think it is OK to come to a vent board and criticize people for venting.
now you got some people justifying themselves, when they don't have too,
Most teachers do love their job. It is a tough job, that is 24/7, when you are out and about and see a product that may trigger your thoughts to your classroom, could you use that, modify it, would it help child x, and the brain usually never turns off from work. I don't know if there is another career like this, where you take the work home, physically and in your mind and on the weekends, summer, etc.
You are working in a classroom, and have to deal with so much paperwork
interesting parents, sick children, and you usually get sick, no matter how strong you think your immune system would be by now.
Testing and the list goes on. You can not change the system and expect to keep your job.
I say this in fun, I would like to see how you feel after you started teaching.
You may still love it, but it may not be what you think it was going to be...
Venting done to trustworthy people, or a place like this, is very healthy. People may feel at least a tiny bit better, and that is a great healthy thing!
To the OP: Yes, you are on the vent board and so should expect vents. That said, I don't see anything wrong with questioning what you're doing. Teaching 5 years and then making up your mind is okay....but what if you decide right now that this isn't for you, find something else that is great and pays decent and maybe even has a Xmas party that you don't have to pay for yourself (something very minor, but something I've always wanted - what would have been the point of waiting 5 years?
Here are things to consider, as I see them:
Teaching is hard.
In many states, teaching pays crappy.
In most schools teachers work 60, 70, 80 hours/week.
Teaching is stressful.
In these days of NCLB, many school districts are grasping at straws and implementing programs that don't work and take control, skill, and creativity away from the teachers.
People in other professions think teaching is easy. It's very devalued.
Yes, you have summers "off", but a) it's not 3 months, more like 2, and b)you probably need to take classes, go to workshops, etc. that you couldn't get to during the school year, and c)if you NEED to work it's very hard to find anything that pays decent for those 2 months/work.
Teaching is very difficult to do if you have a family. Many people (not those who work in schools) think it's great b/c theoretically you're out when the kids are out...but not really.
Teacher workdays my kids have no school...and I work. 1/2 days my kids are out...and I work. Since I am responsible for 20+ children during the day if I have an emergency at home I can't just pop out and take care of it - it's a major problem requiring subs, etc.
There are plenty of plusses, number 1 being the kids...but it is SMART to think about these things before you've committed to even a year of this profession. I've looked around and once in it's hard for some people to get out.
Good luck -
m
People complain about the workload and I just dont get it. If your properly planned and think ahead of yourself you should never be so overwhelmed that you are working a 70 hour week because of planning. I work a 60 hour week because of student teaching and concession stands at basketball games not because of planning.
Love the kids
Don't mind the pay so much
Love the hours and the fact that I don't have to work in an office
I am constantly talking and sharing about subjects I love.
but have you also noticed how the teachers on this board help each other, encourage each other, and support each other? Where else can you find people who will not only work 70 to 80 hours a week, and then seek out other people in the same profession and talk to them about it for the rest of their waking hours. Teachers vent because they are totally consumed with teaching. It's all they think about. Just because we vent doesn't mean we don't love what we do. You can't possibly understand that unless you have experienced it.
I LOVE teaching. There are many rewarding parts and some parts that require a person to vent in order to make it through. I enjoy having a place to go and complain to people who understand what I am going through. My husband has no idea what I am going through and I do not want to complain at work and end up the source of some rumor. If you started out to be a teacher then do what your heart desires and I am sure one day you will be here on the board venting just like everyone else.
I don't have anything to vent, so I just read others' posts. This keeps me feeling blessed about my district and my job. I work in a wonderful district that pays well. When I hear my fellow teachers complain, I think to myself that they don't have a whole lot to complain about compared to some posters on pt. We have a lot of technology and good administrators. When I read about some of the pt posts I feel sorry that they have to work in such difficult districts with incompetent administrators or harsh conditions.
People complain about the workload and I just dont get it. If your properly planned and think ahead of yourself you should never be so overwhelmed that you are working a 70 hour week because of planning.
Well, we should all be so lucky to either:
1. be so far sighted as to think ahead of ourselves
2. work in a district that does not drown their teachers in a sea of useless paperwork.
and I still consider myself lucky to have a job that is so rewarding. I enjoy teaching and every year brings both new challenges and frustrations. I think teachers vent a lot because no one else understands except another teacher, and this is a forum to let it go without being judged. I went back to school and teaching is my second career, and I have never regretted it!
I love the reality of your post, Tangerine! It's true...I love my job, too! But there are realities and I think it takes a few years before you truly know if you are passionate about teaching. When little victories can make you smile throughout the day, you know it's worth it!
Tangerine, you basically said it all IMHO. My highs are really high and my lows are really low. But, overall, I love teaching especially now that I have discovered PT and all of the amazing teachers out there who share so much with each other and allow each other to vent! Heaven only knows that we need that every once in a while!
Well, we should all be so lucky to either:
1. be so far sighted as to think ahead of ourselves
2. work in a district that does not drown their teachers in a sea of useless paperwork.
Don't get snippy, I had a typo about thinking ahead. But i still stand by my statement. I just can't imagine any more paperwork than I already have, and I imagine its about the same everywhere else unless your a SPED teacher.
I love TEACHING. However, one thing I am finding is that there is less and less teaching happening in our schools these days. I just spent the morning doing running records, which is something I am to do every 4-5 weeks (I have 24 students, each student takes a MINIMUM of 15-20 minutes). I would try to do these during our literacy center times, but I also have phonics assessments that I am trying to squeeze in while doing small-group reading instruction. I have spent 5 evenings at mandatory events in the 1st 9 weeks alone. These were not simple 1 hour things, but rather 3 hour events where I was required to work. I am keeping repetitive paperwork on my 24 students...so much of it is simply another way to write the same data. All of this and because the lovely state of NC values their teachers so much...I barely bring home enough to cover daycare (and that is with 7 years experience).
I want to be at teacher, not someone who gives tests all year long and fits in some great lessons here and there. I have faith that the teaching profession will change someday, but sadly, I am currently in a Masters program that will allow me to get out of the classroom should I choose.
Don't expect:
*high pay
*an easy job
*a classroom where every student is problem-free and eager to learn
*plenty of money to buy materials
*a stress-less profession
Do expect:
*the joy of seeing kids finally get a difficult concept
*the satisfaction of working where you can make a real difference in a life
*the chance to create a conducive learning environment
*the opportunity to be creative
*waking up each morning knowing you're doing something important.
As pp have said, this is the Vent board--we ALL need to vent from time to time, but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy our jobs!
Most of the time I enjoy it. I used to love it, but had an administrator that took the joy/creativity/fun out of teaching, and I'm having a hard time bouncing back.
In my district, I'm pretty well paid for my job, but I think I'm in one of the few states where SOME of the districts are paid well.
Davehead86
I saw that you teach middle school, how many classes do you have to prep for? Do you have a daily prep?
I think you forgot that most of us are elementary teachers who teach EVERY subject, not one. Often our planning time is taken for meetings or filling out this form or that form. If I was just able to teach, my hours would not be so long, it's the other stuff that lenghtens it.
I too am in North Carolina. They have cut our pay and they still expect more and more from us. It seems that nothing is ever good enough. My district keeps taking away our planning time with meetings and more meetings!! They want to see more data driven grade level meetings (versus sharing ideas for lesson plans) so they are observing our meetings now!! My principal says that we need to prioritize since we have so much on our plates. The kids are my priority but I feel like the last thing I get to do is meaningful lesson plans. I work at least 10 hours a day and still can't get everything done due to the demands of all the meetings and data driven spreadsheets that they want us to fill out. I know what my kids need if they would just let me teach them!!! And don't get me started on the new math series that we are teaching. Forget the basics and let's just drive one developmentally inappropriate abstract concept after another down the kids throats. I teach first grade and I think I was able to spend two weeks on addition and subtraction. Now we are on to line plots, flips, slides, and turns and congruency. I can teach this age approriately if we weren't forced to use the textbook. I could go on and on but I need to stop myself. Is it this way everywhere? I really want to move out of this state. I know when I lived in the north our district did not enforce this kind of micromanaging. That was several years ago though. Maybe it has changed. If there is someone out there who teaches in a place where they actually use common sense when picking a curriculum and they put the needs of the students first, PLEASE let me know!!
Last edited by carolinablue; 11-07-2009 at 07:12 PM..
Reason: Let me add one more thing. Believe it or not....I do love teaching when I can spend time with the kids
I saw that you teach middle school, how many classes do you have to prep for? Do you have a daily prep?
I think you forgot that most of us are elementary teachers who teach EVERY subject, not one. Often our planning time is taken for meetings or filling out this form or that form. If I was just able to teach, my hours would not be so long, it's the other stuff that lenghtens it.
Tulips
I thought about that too. I do only prep for one class during the day. And do understand the extra time el ed teachers have to put in.
Are you still changing all of your lesson plans every year though? Cant you use them over again?
I think PT is the place for griping. A place where you can do it sans consequences. Most of us love teaching -- really, why the heck else would we do ti?
Every job has frustrations and this is where we vent ours. Be not discouraged friend...!
Don't get snippy, I had a typo about thinking ahead. But i still stand by my statement. I just can't imagine any more paperwork than I already have, and I imagine its about the same everywhere else unless your a SPED teacher.
Come work in my district.....you will get more than ever possible to do and plan in the 45 minutes a day we get....
Are you still changing all of your lesson plans every year though? Cant you use them over again?
In elementary, it seems that the districts change curriculum every year or two so there is no way to keep using the same lesson plans. Plus, one year, you may get the inclusion group and the next year the high group. Ele. ed. admin is constantly reinventing the wheel
11-01-2009, 12:30 PM
So, we have good and bad days-just like most other professions. If you like people-it is a great profession!
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