So OP, How did it go?

Teaching sucks, but teaching sucks a lot less than everything else. You are not closely supervised. Most of the kids like you and some of them adore you. You're not getting rich, but most jobs really do pay less. Something funny happens every day. Whether its about students, parents, or coworkers you always have amusing stories to tell. People may not be deferential to teachers as they were in decades past, but teachers are still respected members of the community.

Compared to most other jobs - it's still a pretty good gig.

Anonymous wrote:Come on now...you can do it. Just put your nose in a box of crayons and breathe in.

Who will be the little one that comes out of his shell for you? How about the little guy that you realize early on might have some learning issues and you help the parents help the kid. Which kid will be the one that always has the best comments? Which kid will learn English on your watch? Or don't forget about the kid that gets on your nerves every day but you learn to love them anyway.

Every year is amazing, I can't wait to see how many way the kids surprise me (good and bad). Love it.

This is a sweet post.

I'm not a teacher, but I think you teachers work super hard and often don't get enough credit.

Good luck!!

Here is a link to an excerpt from Dave Egger's book "Teachers have it Easy", a must read for teachers and parents:

http://genprogress.org/voices/2005/05/05/14121/teachers-have-it-easy/

OP, could you do (have you done) anything through Donor's Choice? It would give other people -- including parents of the kids in your class -- a chance to pitch in financially, and knowing they're willing to could really boost your morale.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope your not my kids teacher.

I hate people like you! Op wants to feel better- you kick her when she's down?

Op is a model teacher- she's the kind they make movies about... That freedom writer teacher ruined her marriage, gave all money and time to students and is considered a hero ... I don't know where the pp who can just turn in receipts works, but most teachers can't - and it seems most people, administrators and parents expect teachers to make financial and personal time sacrifices - when a teacher complains about these expectations here, posters tell her she's a terrible teacher and she should quit. It's a job- not a religious mission. Why are teachers supposed to martyr themselves?

I had an administrator say to the staff once that if we didn't have too much in our plates we were not doing enough. This mentality is crazy.

Not a teacher and ita

Don't wear yourself out. If your contract time is from 8-3, for example, then be at work at 8 and the leave promptly at three.

Anonymous wrote:I hope your not my kids teacher.

Surprise surprise most teachers feel this way

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope your not my kids teacher.

Do you mean you're?

Yeah, and it should be kid's.

Anonymous wrote:I hope your not my kids teacher.

Do you mean you're?

Anonymous wrote:I hope your not my kids teacher.

Did you miss the "fellow teachers" part of the subject line?

As an educator, I have to say that the most difficult part of teaching is always unreasonable parents. Thank goodness for the really great parents that make up for the super annoying crowd.

Have a great day tomorrow, OP.

Why don't you get a quote from each kid in response to a question about what they hope will happen in your classroom, something they want to tell about themselves, something that happened over the summer, etc. Post it where parents can see it at pickup. I am sure you'll have cute, funny, silly responses.

Definitely set budget limits.

Go home when you can.

Treat yourself DAILY.

Repeat what works. Change what doesn't. Don't be afraid to find a few lazy go-tos and give yourself a break once or twice a week.

I have a sneaking suspicion you're at my school. Do you have 3s or 4s?

For me this time of the year is the perfect moment for optimism. Many jobs don't have this opportunity for "starting again" and it really helps me.

I have not been in the "I need to save them all" category of teachers for a long time. Instead, I take small victories and really allow them to help strengthen me when I'm feeling that I'm burning out. DH is also a great resource for me as he helps direct my attention back to that great email I got from an appreciative family or the story I told him about how a girl who had been crying in my office has turned things around for herself. I don't need everything to make me feel like the best teacher ever, but I do try to use them to keep my spirits up in times when I'm overly frustrated by administration or paper work, etc.

I was in your situation a few years ago and I have to say that I ended up changing careers. I still work with families and young children, but not in a public or private school setting. I am so much less stressed, happier, and earn a better salary. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. You have to take care of yourself, too. You have given a lot these past several years and deserve a change, if that is what you want to do.

You can do it!!!! It's always hard through about mid October. It's a breeze through Christmas Break. You come back refreshed from the Holidays and power through the next eight weeks or so then it's time for Spring Break. When you get back from a wonderfully relaxing Spring Break, it's all downhill!

Think about those excited little faces. The hilarious personalities. The parents who drive you insane but provide the best material for horror stories! Think about the wonderful controlled chaos of the classroom! Try to ignore the administration as much as you can (without risking your job, of course) and focus on your little classroom haven.

Once you get in the classroom with the kids, I'll bet all that energy will come right back to you! Their excitement can be contagious! Wishing you a great class, tolerable parents, and a great year!