first year teacher

[Anonymous]

I work with a first year teacher. 23 years old. She has cried every day the last few weeks. It is constant. She doesn't know how to do anything. I'm doing all I can to help, but it is wearing on me. I don't think she is going to make it until Halloween.

[Anonymous]

The reality is often different than the expectation of what teaching will be like. It's pretty normal. What exactly is she most overwhelmed with?

[Anonymous]

Classroom management, writing curriculum, lesson planning, schedule making, all the meetings, learning new techniques, difficult parents, and many other things.

[Anonymous]

Does your school have a mentor program?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I'm her mentor. Again, doing all I can, keeping my annoyance to myself, picking up a LOT of slack, helping with planning etc. But omg, the endless crying! I get crying maybe once a week or something but daily? Several times a day? Really?

[Anonymous]

Are you telling me she cries at work? In front of the students--or, is she doing it at the end of the day --kind of like the small child who is fine at school but starts crying as soon as mom shows up.

I struggled as a first year teacher, and I might have cried in the car on the way home, or felt like crying--but, you mean real tears?

I think if I had done that, my co-workers would have told me to suck it up.

[Anonymous]

It’s very common to cry everyday until thanksgiving break. Then power through until Xmas and come back and be recharged after winter break. Support her. Come into her class and lead a few things if she needs classroom management help. Be gentle. I feel for her. ESP in schools around here. The parents and kids not listening and the unrealistic expectations of meetings, Paper work. Etc is all stuff the don’t prep you for.

[Anonymous]

Yes, crying, sobbing, real tears daily. Not in front of kids, but before school, at lunch, after school. Constant. Yes, I will continue to be gentle and caring and will help as much as possible. But wow, its a lot.

[Anonymous]

Meh. I taught school younger than that and it was the easiest job I ever had. It’s not rocket science people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, crying, sobbing, real tears daily. Not in front of kids, but before school, at lunch, after school. Constant. Yes, I will continue to be gentle and caring and will help as much as possible. But wow, its a lot.

Wow. She likely is prone to do this, anyway. Sounds like it is that "let down" mode from stress. Maybe, suggest she take a walk at lunch?

[Anonymous]

Did she go through a teacher prep program with student teaching? Or is she a career changer? Our new teachers who have never done student teaching tend to be much more emotional and overwhelmed and quit frequently. I cry less and less each year. It's usually just at the beginning of the year when they dump so much on us. Why is she writing curriculum as a first year teacher?

[Anonymous]

I would steer her towards the EAP program if your district has one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, crying, sobbing, real tears daily. Not in front of kids, but before school, at lunch, after school. Constant. Yes, I will continue to be gentle and caring and will help as much as possible. But wow, its a lot.

Wow. She likely is prone to do this, anyway. Sounds like it is that "let down" mode from stress. Maybe, suggest she take a walk at lunch?

I had a terrible year last year and found that leaving the building at lunch helped tremendously

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she go through a teacher prep program with student teaching? Or is she a career changer? Our new teachers who have never done student teaching tend to be much more emotional and overwhelmed and quit frequently. I cry less and less each year. It's usually just at the beginning of the year when they dump so much on us. Why is she writing curriculum as a first year teacher?

She's writing curriculum, along with the rest of us, because we only have curriculum for one subject. Everything else we don't have any curriculum at all.

[Anonymous]

Wonder if she is also having boyfriend trouble? I was a 23 year old teacher once......