Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of this disrespect stuff is specific to the DMV. I left and live elsewhere in Virginia, and while the behavior isn't perfect, there is a lot more respect for the teachers from the students. There's something in the water in NOVA.

Disagree. It's widely discussed by teachers all over the United States.

Yep, it is everywhere. I am so happy to here there are some places that aren't experiencing the horrible behaviors some of us are. I ended up leaving public after several decades in the classroom, but before I was ready to retire, because I no longer felt safe. I moved to private where I actually experienced some of those same safety issues. I was stunned. I don't have any advice for you other than, if you end up returning to the classroom and decide you don't want to continue? Leave and don't look back. If you are able to take a different type of job and if you need to and can take a pay cut, do it.

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of this disrespect stuff is specific to the DMV. I left and live elsewhere in Virginia, and while the behavior isn't perfect, there is a lot more respect for the teachers from the students. There's something in the water in NOVA.

Disagree. It's widely discussed by teachers all over the United States.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of this disrespect stuff is specific to the DMV. I left and live elsewhere in Virginia, and while the behavior isn't perfect, there is a lot more respect for the teachers from the students. There's something in the water in NOVA.

I absolutely disagree with this.

It's endemic. Societal. Partially due to technology, partially due to a change in parents' values. It's everywhere.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I think a lot of this disrespect stuff is specific to the DMV. I left and live elsewhere in Virginia, and while the behavior isn't perfect, there is a lot more respect for the teachers from the students. There's something in the water in NOVA.

I absolutely disagree with this.

It's endemic. Societal. Partially due to technology, partially due to a change in parents' values. It's everywhere.

I think a lot of this disrespect stuff is specific to the DMV. I left and live elsewhere in Virginia, and while the behavior isn't perfect, there is a lot more respect for the teachers from the students. There's something in the water in NOVA.

Went to law school, worked for a firm. Decided to go back into teaching. It was a nice break in between and now I can still do legal work on the side to supplement income when I feel like it.

And I still have enough prior years where I was able to vest into the retirement system and build my 401k.

Win win.

If you need a break take it.

Some switch to private schools. Usually lower salaries in private, but fewer (not zero) student behavior issues, less (not zero) admin silliness, and often some options for your own kids to attend same school more affordably. It is personal preference whether that choice is worth the trade offs.

A lot of the craziness has to do with the school's admin. Social media has made it a lot easier to vet schools and administrators before you even apply. If you ask about a certain school on a teacher site and other teachers tell you to run, believe them. It's absolutely possible to enjoy the job but the conditions need to be right.

Anonymous wrote:Those who took a break in teaching and then went back, how did you cope with the craziness that exist there.

It was almost acceptable when I was young but I now am older and witness so many weird things. You can actually now see what many people are doing behavior wise. Much of it is to gain power or young blind ambition.

How do I cope and thrive?

Thrive? I find other ways to thrive. I spend time with family members. I spend time on hobbies.

I try to help as many kids as possible but I can’t save them all.

I need a paycheck. It’s a job.

Few people are “thriving” in public schools these days…

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends what age you teach and what subject.

Tell us more.

You can adapt. We all have.

First grade! Math and science

Lovely!

My advice:
— establish routines that happen every single day in the same order. Every day. They know what to expect, even the lower kids.
— make things as fun and hands on as you possibly can. Science especially! Make it seem like a big mystery and they’re all detectives on the case to discover how things work.
— Bring in realia even if it’s not part of the assignment or what you’ve been provided.
— math: watch YouTube videos of the concepts you’re teaching to see if anyone has done fun songs to match the concept. But don’t show them the videos! You sing them and teach it to them first if you can. The fewer screens the better.
— lots of moving around if you can—mix up groups, have them move around the classroom, but back to those routines, always have a signal for when they need to get back to their seats. Example, you ring an electronic doorbell and that sound is just to have them get back to their seats in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Just be prepared for more kids to just flat out refuse to do anything. I teach kindergarten and never had kids tell me know and refuse to do things. I have a few every year now.

They also don’t have the basics that used to be expected of kids. I always have kids who can’t rote count to 20, count a group of objects accurately, understand that the last number they say is the total amount. These are just some math examples.

Just make sure you are solid on your classroom management and discipline plus routines. There are going to be kids who don’t buy into your behavior incentives so you’ll have to figure that out.

Dealing with parents has changed too. Many of them are MIA, highly reactive/combative. Talking to the previous year teacher helps with a heads up of what did work or didn’t work with the difficult kids and parents.

Anonymous wrote:Depends what age you teach and what subject.

Tell us more.

You can adapt. We all have.

First grade! Math and science

Depends what age you teach and what subject.

Tell us more.

You can adapt. We all have.

You don’t ever go back. I am a career switcher who returned to schools for 7 years and left abruptly when my personal safety was threatened. FCPS.

I consider myself a young retiree now.

Those who took a break in teaching and then went back, how did you cope with the craziness that exist there.

It was almost acceptable when I was young but I now am older and witness so many weird things. You can actually now see what many people are doing behavior wise. Much of it is to gain power or young blind ambition.

How do I cope and thrive?