Am I Making a Mistake?
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Anonymous
I guess to be that guy: what accommodations? First year of teaching is very hard, middle school is very hard, and wild schools are very hard. |
Anonymous
Will do. I think this entire exchange is itself a true testiment as to why their kid’s teachers are leaving. It is evident here that it is not an easy job and honestly, I have already cried just having read what someone imparted about how there are some students that come to class on an empty stomach and that there was a son reduced to sleeping in a closet with his mother. To tell the truth, it was a really painful reminder of my own experiences, growing up in abject poverty, way back when brother and I often went to bed hungry because there was not enough to eat and feel full and my parents were too proud to ask anyone for charity. Fortunately, I have only slept in a walk-in closet once, when I spent the night over at a friend’s home. Oddly, that actually made me feel safe and secure; however, when my father found out about it, he immediately forbade me ever sleeping over at her house again, but I digress. Anyway, the point here is, I relate and thanks to the person who shared that I know to keep a stash granola bars in my desk drawer, because she bothered to suggest it. Furthermore, from everything I have gathered here and elsewhere, as I debated this decision, if you care and are truly concerned with the welfare of those in your charges, it can exact a great toll on one’s own well-being. I now have a new admiration for those that have found the fortitude within to stick it out over the course of their careers. It sounds like there are a lot that never last that long. Realistically, I may not make it more than a year before I burn out, but it is also not yet a foregone conclusion. |
Anonymous
I have ADHD and a math disorder called dyscalculia. |
Anonymous
Is there a textbook you can recommend that I read? |
Anonymous
I will keep that way in the back of my mind. TY |
Anonymous
Thank you for taking the time and expending the energy to read and respond. I am also majorly relieved that so many of you have reached out and offered reassurance and assistance if I feel frustrated. I was worried that I may end up unity a mentor not much more experienced than me. TY again for your brutal honesty supportive words. So, last night I made a list of all of the things I think will essential to prepare for students to success in my class, considering that 69% of them are economically disadvantaged and 100% are likely to leave their supplies at home sometime. I am expecting that at most, I will be teaching 125 students. I tried to find the best prices by buying in bulk, but I may be bargaining for far way more than it is worth investing in. Could you kindly look at my list and advise me? That might actually help me to cut down on costs. Also, I would like to know if there is any thing I have not considered. I am not worried about decor because I do not know if I will have my own classroom. Also when I composed it, I had already read your post about not needing to be Pinterest perfect, lol. 
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Anonymous
I didn’t actually answer your question. Oops. Extra time is all. It helped me get all the way through college |
Anonymous
I agree that you definitely want to write kids up if they are causing or threatening harm to others or school property. But if they are just rude or disruptive, try to handle it yourself first, otherwise you will get a reputation as someone who can't manage their class. Call home and assign detention. Always, always document. That way when you eventually write the kid up for their continued misbehavior, you have a record of what you have already tried, because admin is going to ask for that. Every year I get at least one kid whose behavior is so awful that they are incapable of being in a regular classroom, but it usually takes a full year of documentation before the school can move them into a different program. The more strategies you try and then document in detail, the faster that process goes. |
Anonymous
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“The First Days of School” by Wong and “Love and Logic “ for Educators
https://www.loveandlogic.com/collections/educators?tw_source=google&tw_adid=694884888454&tw_campaign=20973893646&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7ZO0BhDYARIsAFttkCjFg17kDA_rN3VsjT_52_cHvT_FEsrYfAdWHeyZXNjiSsOgZXykfF8aAmQhEALw_wcB |
Anonymous
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A few tips:
Keep Ziploc bags in your desk. Rather than make kids throw out their food, I have them put it in a bag, which sometimes (not always) avoids arguments. They are also useful when kids bring slime, or Legos, or someone's necklace breaks and there are beads everywhere, etc. When there is a big assignment due (test, project, essay, etc.), immediately go through the stack and figure out who did not turn it in. Put zeros in the grade book right away, even if you don't have time to grade all the other submissions yet. That may seem harsh, but it's a warning to the student and their parents that this is what their grade will be if they don't submit it. Otherwise they are shocked when weeks later their grade goes down after you finally put the bad grade in. You don't want there to be any surprises, particularly not at the end of a quarter. Again with the no surprises, give study guides and post notes and info about upcoming tests online. Chromebook addiction is real. Admin probably won't support you going completely tech free, but be strategic about how you use the computers. In my class we will do warm ups on the computer (because Google forms give me data) and for graded exit tickets at the end of class (because the more you can automate your grading, the better). However, all notes and worksheets are on paper, because that keeps the kids focused. Familiarize yourself with the software for controlling their screens (we use Hapara at my school), though the kids find ways around the system. Also, sometimes reviews games on the computer can be a good time filler; check out Kahoot and Blooket. Create a spreadsheet with IEP/504 accommodations, specifically who gets small group testing, read aloud, dictionary access, and extended time. Note any other unusual accommodations. Check it before every assessment and make arrangements for those students as necessary. These are legal requirements, so you don't want to screw this up. If you don't know Spanish, at least learn the bad words like "puta" and "mierda." It is also very effective to learn how to say, "Do I need to call your mom?" in Spanish. Sixth graders are in that weird tween space where they are sometimes kids and sometimes teens. One minute you will be having a really deep conversation about an important topic, and you are so proud of how well the kids are discussing complex issues. The next minute, you are confiscating slime from a kid and telling two others to stop putting glue on each other. Some of the kids look and act like they are 8 (usually the boys), and some of the kids look and act like they are 18 (usually the girls). They can drive you crazy, but they can also be funny and sweet. They appreciate a little sarcasm, but you can't go overboard. You also need to always keep your cool, even when they lose theirs. |
Anonymous
That is something that I am scared of. I’m thinking that it would be best if I keep a desk between myself and someone who is in a dangerous state. I definitely do not want to get hurt and I also don’t want to give the appearance that I am going to do anything except try to deescalate the situation with my words until backup arrives to assist. I’m open to other ideas that have worked for others. I plan to follow your advice about making a police report. As far as crying in the car, I think I will place some post-it notes to help me adjust my perspective. The very best thing I can do for these students long-term is to empower them to confidently, clearly, and effectively communicate in English and encourage them to read to expand their horizons. I believe that you give someone a fish, they will eat for a day, but if you teach them to fish, they will never go hungry again. TY for saying I should not feel ashamed to release my emotions. |
Anonymous
No one wants a tutor who has never taught before, unfortunately. You could try one of the online tutoring services like Wyzant. |
Anonymous
I do know by observation how to deploy my “teacher voice” (that is what both of my mentors referred to it as) when students are not following along with the usual program. What has worked for you when students are outright rude and disrespectful of others? Is there something you do that sets a standard of how to comport themselves in the classroom? What do you say in the moment to make a strong impression that you will not tolerate any verbal abuse in the room that has proven effective in practice? |
Anonymous
TY. I will add that to my list. |
Anonymous
I plan to talk with the other teachers about how to prioritize my responsibilities. I am also trying to think of ways that might reduce my grading, like using an online quiz generator and having students do some presentations in class. I do believe that only people who are hurting, hurt others and that is something will have to train myself to be more mindful in the moment. This is very valuable advice, especially the part about taking an active interest in what the students are interested outside of the classroom. I like the way you refer to ‘triage’; that makes so much sense to me. You would be absolutely amazed at how many notes I make in notepad on my iPad. When I was performing my practicum, I learned to keep a teaching experience journal for future reference. I could incorporate my to do lists there. TY for the helpful suggestions. |