One person's "awful teacher", is often favored by others. Who's to say?

Anonymous wrote:I would think first time teachers would be fantastic. Maybe inexperienced, but full of energy. That is what I have always observed. They know best practices and how to take charge. I am very surprised at this acuusation. Maybe you were there at a bad time of day?

As a teacher who has now been teaching for 12 years, I have to say my first couple of years I was pretty bad. Yes, I had had a lot of theory about education in graduate school (GMU), but the practical things of teaching (discipline, organization, planning), were sorely missing in my program. I had 2 1/2 months of student teaching, but only about 2-3 weeks of that was actual teaching, much of it was observation and helping out. I was enthusiastic, but my students that first year really took advantage of my newness and wore me out (I teach high school). Now I would say I am pretty good at what I do, but that definitely came with a few years of practice and experience.

This first time teacher is not "young" and has challenging kids of her own, maybe why she didn't have the new energy that many first timers posses. I just feel that she was "phoning it in", very unorganized and taught AAP without any training whatsoever. Not impressed, got the feeling that she was a real BS-er, maybe she will be moved next year. I certainly hope so.

I would think first time teachers would be fantastic. Maybe inexperienced, but full of energy. That is what I have always observed. They know best practices and how to take charge. I am very surprised at this acuusation. Maybe you were there at a bad time of day?

We had an awful first-time teacher at another school (out of district). She was pleasant, but what she did that was awful was not being able to control the class. I saw it first-hand because I volunteered there once per week. There were a few kids who were disruptive and she could not handle them. The whole class seemed to fall apart because of that. Her teaching methods were questionable. "Go to the library and do research on arctic animals." I went with them to the library, and the kids basically looked up a pre-set program and then "copied" the facts about arctic animals onto their sheets. Where is the learning?

We also had a first-time teacher who was great! So not ragging on first-time teachers. Everyone is one at some point. I was just pointing out how they (or any teacher really) can be terrible.

Wow, OP, that's a pretty awful accusation.

What did this teacher do that was so terrible?

Anonymous wrote:Beware if you have a child heading to Mantua Elem School. There is an awful first time teacher there. I thought she would have gotten better through the year, but yikes! I don't want to mention names, but if you have a child there watch out.

so, what grade? I think third is the worst to have a bad teacher. We did (not at Mantua) and switched schools.

First-time teachers can be problematic. Most teachers in Fairfax are good, but they do hire some first-year teachers every year who turn out to be real stinkers.

But, without mentioning even the teacher's grade, your post isn't going to be very helpful to future Mantua parents.

It is ALWAYS the teachers fault..................not

I hear the parents there are pretty awful, too.

Beware if you have a child heading to Mantua Elem School. There is an awful first time teacher there. I thought she would have gotten better through the year, but yikes! I don't want to mention names, but if you have a child there watch out.