From a struggling teacher

[Anonymous]

I am so tired and frustrated. I don't know what to do. It is my fourth year teaching and I am exhausted (middle school). I have one class that is extremely difficult. There are multiple students with extreme behavioral issues who cosbtantly have in school suspension but whenever they don't are causing serious issues in class. Admin expects us to deal with issues by constantly giving detention or using our own time after school.

It is a low income urban school (not DC). I have taught at one other school in this demographic and always had a class that was great, one that was ok and one that was really difficult. Now I am struggling so much. I kind of enjoy one class and one is impossible; the other depends on the day. They refuse to listen even for basic instructions.

I've been looking for jobs for the last hour. I feel like I can't do this anymore. I don't know what to do.

[Anonymous]

Hugs, OP. Just so you know, this is the worst stretch, January-March. This is when many teachers they're done, and by April they're feeling energized again.

That's not to say things will be okay, but that you're probably at the low of the year. Sounds like you have a particularly challenging situation.

Do you have a mentor you can talk to?

[Anonymous]

If you are in FCPS, you can have a free mentor, and the mentoring counts towards your required education credits. May be invaluable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are in FCPS, you can have a free mentor, and the mentoring counts towards your required education credits. May be invaluable.

Thanks. I'm in another east coast city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hugs, OP. Just so you know, this is the worst stretch, January-March. This is when many teachers they're done, and by April they're feeling energized again.

That's not to say things will be okay, but that you're probably at the low of the year. Sounds like you have a particularly challenging situation.

Do you have a mentor you can talk to?

Thanks. I've just never had a year where I didn't enjoy teaching this much. I am so concerned. I also don't think this school is the right fit for me but it's my first year there and I'm not sure it's a great idea to move schools next year for some professional reasons, but I think I need to look. Or get out of teaching altogether. I've always worked with kids and I loved teaching. I just feel broken

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hugs, OP. Just so you know, this is the worst stretch, January-March. This is when many teachers they're done, and by April they're feeling energized again.

That's not to say things will be okay, but that you're probably at the low of the year. Sounds like you have a particularly challenging situation.

Do you have a mentor you can talk to?

Thanks. I've just never had a year where I didn't enjoy teaching this much. I am so concerned. I also don't think this school is the right fit for me but it's my first year there and I'm not sure it's a great idea to move schools next year for some professional reasons, but I think I need to look. Or get out of teaching altogether. I've always worked with kids and I loved teaching. I just feel broken

Don't give up on teaching just yet. But I do think you should look to see if you can find a position at another school. No harm in looking. You don't have to apply or accept if offered. But look and see what the options are. Maybe you'll still feel miserable in a couple months. Then it's not worth it.

I only worked in inner city schools when student teaching, and though I had a lot of responsibilities and independence, I still had great mentors helping and supporting me through the process. You should check to see if there's something like that available to you. Is there someone else in your department you can talk to? Someone who can visit your classroom and observe and give feedback/insights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hugs, OP. Just so you know, this is the worst stretch, January-March. This is when many teachers they're done, and by April they're feeling energized again.

That's not to say things will be okay, but that you're probably at the low of the year. Sounds like you have a particularly challenging situation.

Do you have a mentor you can talk to?

Thanks. I've just never had a year where I didn't enjoy teaching this much. I am so concerned. I also don't think this school is the right fit for me but it's my first year there and I'm not sure it's a great idea to move schools next year for some professional reasons, but I think I need to look. Or get out of teaching altogether. I've always worked with kids and I loved teaching. I just feel broken

Would you like tutoring?

[Anonymous]

OP -

Right now, over prepare with work sheets that you work through with them - guiding the discussion and shortening the leash. Lower your voice. Do not smile, and be boring. Get things back into control and only then make the activities more fun.

The structure also insures that if you do lose control, the kids who didn't cause it are sill able to get the material.

And get some help from a more experienced teacher.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Sorry op. My father had the same experience, he was in PG. Middle school too. But rather than persevere until he found a job in another County or area, he let himself burn out and quit teaching altogether long before his retirement. Now he's in an industry he doesn't like. So, my advice is to not stop applying elsewhere. Even if it takes a few years.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for tips. OP here. Thing is there are few more experienced teachers at the school. A coach has told me everything is great (when she observed one class), but I need to be more student driven, so I've tried to implement that.

The struggles really come in transitions. Just the whole class refusing to stop talking. They have had issues with behavior in academic classes consistently throughout the year (I only began teaching them a few weeks ago as it is a semester class). The issues are not specific to my class.

[Anonymous]

Just curious. Have you ever tried reaching out to their parents? Maybe I'm naive. I'm not a teacher. I've had my DCs' teachers reach out to me about their unruly behavior at times (though this was in ES, so maybe it's different?). I set my kids straight, and they usually change their behavior in class. I fully believe it's a team effort. I know not all parents are engaged. Was just curious if this is something MS teachers would do.

[Anonymous]

So sorry things are difficult for you OP. I teach in an inner city school but I only teach ES so the behavior issues aren't as bad as MS. Are the students capable of student driven work? I teach remedial students so most of what we do is direct instruction in specific skills. I agree with the PP who said to go back to teacher directed for now. My school uses PBIS and that works well for my students. Are there any incentives that might work with your students? Do you have any technology? We do have a few iPad carts that I will use with students who have met or exceeded expectations in terms of behavior and/or academics. That seems to motivate some of my students. If you share some of the specific behaviors, maybe someone can give suggestions. I have one class that is super hyper most of the time. They are hyped up from the cafeteria a(ka Overstimulation City ) and/or recess. They would come into my room so wound up until I found a short yoga type video online. We turn out the lights and do some yoga for a few minutes and it brings them down a few notches. I also will only allow students with my rain stick to talk. Nobody else can talk until the rain stick is passed to them. Kids love it so they will raise their hands and bite their tongues so they can hold it and talk. Seems to work for them. This is my 4th year teaching too and I'm dead tired. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious. Have you ever tried reaching out to their parents? Maybe I'm naive. I'm not a teacher. I've had my DCs' teachers reach out to me about their unruly behavior at times (though this was in ES, so maybe it's different?). I set my kids straight, and they usually change their behavior in class. I fully believe it's a team effort. I know not all parents are engaged. Was just curious if this is something MS teachers would do.

I do. I have. These kids' parents have been contacted throughout the year. Today I called three parents after school. I had the student speak to them and then myself. It took 30 minutes. Imagine what that thirty minutes feels like as a teacher when you've been at school for nine hours and have a splitting headache directly from that class' behavior. I should probably call more, but results are not often seen.

[Anonymous]

I just want to say, I appreciate all you teachers. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

21:53 - thank you. There is some technology but it's not easy to access. Most of the students are low but some could work beyond. However, I feel like all are having trouble fully mastering the material due to the general behavior issues.