So, I was fired today. Should I bother to look for another teaching job,

or should I look for another profession? Please keep in mind, I suspect that I suck at teaching.

Good luck in your search. I am not a teacher, so I can't advise....

Yes, that's right. My crazy students didn't listen to me. Big surprise.

and had gotten a job, I woulda been fired for that too.

If it helps, my dear sainted mother said that people who can't manage a group of kids might want to consider remedial small group and one-on-one teaching, like in Chapter one and Sped.

Special education?

Having (wrongfully) been put in place there, it's FAR worse than 'normal' classrooms. I'd rather not tell any stories about my time there...

if you basically are running a remedial assistance room it's not too bad.

What would you really LOVE to do? Besides get paid for doing nothing (my dream!)

Teenagers tend to think that I'm a wuss, and they totally disregard anything that comes out of my mouth.

I think I might try private schools and colleges.

In addition, I am very adept at teaching the writing process.

having very kind clients who didn't rush me through the process of revising their novel with them.

And now they want to keep me on for all the books in their mystery series. (mind you the only way I could do this for a living is if I really knuckled down and churned out a manuscript every 2 months or less and charged consulation fees over top of my flat rate. But, not having confidence in my writing skills, I sell my talent dirt cheap. ;) )

Not middle school ever
and only high school after some training

How long have yu been teaching???????//

I taught undergrads for three years before that.

I won't presume to tell you what sort of job to look for-- good luck.

in any job. I need to get a handle on that first.

if you think of teaching as low rent masochism. Find something else, you deserve to be happy and truthfully the kids deserve more than that.
Good Luck!:toast:

We have a huge violence problem: fights occur every day; weapons are found with shocking regularity; most of the student are in gangs. They want nothing to do with anything that I have to show them.

I think if you got into another teaching position for a few years (see Ms Marples post below) you might have a different outlook. I hope you find your best fit, no matter what you chose to do.

But, bear in mind that beginning teaching is very difficult and many districts don't provide the support new teachers need. It takes many new teachers at least three years to gain a comfortable level of competency. And it could be the grade level isn't the best fit for you.

Good luck. :-)

same stupid mistakes that I made this time---like writing up disciplinary reports on students and openly complaining.

Please tell me you were being sarcastic.

I "wrote up" about five students per week during the first semester. After a couple of months, the AP stopped suspending students whom I had written up. I know for a fact that I earned a reputation for not being able to "control" the class--which is true, but I never really received any training of how to do it. It was all hit-or-miss.

They dropped the ball on you.

In my district ALL teachers up to their FOURTH year of teaching have two mentors: one who helps them only with classroom management issues and one who helps with the content area--curriculum and instruction concerns.

They meet with the new teacher at least WEEKLY the first year. They even go to the principal with the teacher when necessary, on their behalf. They are like teacher advocates.

Also there are tons of staff development offerings to help new teachers.

Because of this mentoring program, our teacher retention rate has risen and we are nurturing new teachers that will BE kick ass someday, LOL!

but wrote up 6 hours of fake reports about our "conferences." When I asked her if she thought that this was a bad idea, she said, "Ha! Nobody will know. It's all bullshit anyway." Never mind the fact that she received a $700 stipend to do this, which she took. She quit in February, and I was never assigned a new mentor. By the way, our principal "found" her a new job higher up in the food chain, so he most likely wouldn't be sympathetic if I brought this up to him.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

THAT BURNS ME UP.

A $700 fucking stipend??? For TEN minutes of observation?

So she never sat down with you and talked? Helped you?

Asshat. Gawd. Um, if you have pretty much written off that district anyway, you might as well bring it up to whomever is in charge of the mentoring program. THEY might be interested in knowing.

No way.

WTF? I'm so sorry! Did they say you don't have a contract for next year or had you already signed it or what?

Guess it can't hurt to try something different. Have you done this since you graduated from college?

I'm sorry.

The issue, as I mentioned above, was my classroom management.

My previous experience was actually teaching college English Lit courses, but I only did that while I finished my MA. Other than that, I've done some freelance copywriting, which bores me to tears. The strange thing is that I was happiest (and most effective) as a student teacher: I never had any huge behavior issues break out, and my students seemed to be learning. I don't know why, but everything that worked for me during student teacher absolutely bombed when I started at my current school.

It takes 3-5 years just to hit your stride. It's not one of those jobs (as some people seem to think) that you can just walk in and snap! do fantastic!

I have a male teacher friend who teaches ninth grade English and his first three years were in eighth grade English and he was SO timid with them and they just ran all over him and he was miserable.

But he just kept hanging in there (and got moved to the high school) and over time, he got better and better. Now he's the department chair and has really hit his stride (seven years teaching now).

Plus he looked younger than the kids when he first started.

Anyway, just trying to give you some encouragement.

I was a technical writer for a couple of years and really liked it, but the cube life completely got on my nerves. You have an MA? That's good, that'll make things easier.

Good luck, PM me if you want.

I taught undergrads for three years as an adjunct professor. That job was an entirely different kettle of fish.

Thanks for the encouragement; I surely need it.

No sweat,
But I blame your district and union for not giving you support.

Your SCHOOL and your district should have given you more support.

This was your FIRST YEAR?

Are you a part of a teacher professional organization (what we have here in TX, no unions) or a teacher union?

If it is clear you need help with classroom management, the administration is supposed to GIVE you that help and support.

No one expects a first year teacher to just walk in the classroom and have discipline down pat. That shit is HARD, especially on the secondary level.

Shit. I wish I had known that. One year.

In addition, I went to a half-dozen weekend-long seminars and spent all of my time absorbing new techniques...which bombed. I am a member of the union (AFT Local 1, in fact), and my rep just shook his head and said, "There's nothing you can do." He's pissed.

Damn, that pisses ME off.

HOW are we going to expect to keep teachers when we treat them like this?

What I am doing right now is exactly this topic: retaining, nurturing, supporting new teachers (four years and under).

I am working on a master's thesis on this very topic and it's what I do full-time.

:grr:

moderate to severe emotional for two years
learned classroom management there and then taught in normal settings.

I'm surprised they didn't offer help long before you got the axe.

Teaching is something you will come back to, take time off from it, and redirect
Do you love teaching or just hate your school and job?

I don't like the politics of teaching in the public school
in special ed it was half of the paperwork and half of my time
Got no support from administration and had battles all the time with them.

Do you love teaching kids?
Find what you love to do and do it
the money will come.

I now teach privately part time in tutoring and advisory(testing) situations

Have a beer on me, in fact
it is after five and I will open a beer right now
and toast you




:toast: :toast:

That was my fatal flaw: I had some trouble in the beginning, so I asked for help. The advice that I received was nothing that I couldn't have found online, but it alerted the assistant principals to my "problems." They observed my class twice during the first semester, and then I never saw them again. I also noticed that my fellow department members began to avoid me when I would ask for their advice. One of them told me, "You don't want advice--you just want to complain." I hope that she was not correct, but whatever the case, I never did get the hang of it.

I like it a lot. I suppose I should try another type of school elsewhere.

Come over here, sit next to me, get comfy.

My first year of teaching I was 22 and teaching English at a large urban high school. FIVE PREPS. Floating teacher (no classroom of my own). Average class size 37. Administration missing in action. Other teachers completely uncaring and unhelpful. Sink or swim, do or die.

I had my tires slashed, my car keyed, I had a coach try to give me a detention for being in the teacher's lounge (I looked too young), kids as old as 19 threatened me with assault, I had a wooden desk thrown at me when I was nine months pregnant, I had an emotionally disturbed child come at me with scissors the same week as that, saying he'd give me a homemade c-section if I didn't pass him.

I could go on and on. The administration was NOT in charge of this school and help for new teachers was literally non-existent.

After two years of this hell, I quit and said I would NEVER step foot in the classroom again.

I worked as a technical writer for a couple of years and liked it, but I really missed the creativity of being in the classroom.

My stepmother talked me into interviewing with a middle school principal. I would have my own classroom (!!!) in a brand new wing (!!!), one prep, much smaller classes, and the administration was actually supportive and helpful.

I considered it for a week and decided to take a chance. One of the best things I ever did. It was completely different that time.

You need to really search your heart. If you truly love teaching (and not all the bullshit, no one loves that), you might want to consider another district, another grade level, etc.

Don't let the turkeys get you down.

As for your main consideration, yes, I do love the actual teaching part of teaching. I hate the politics and insane behavior.

Because it was the essence of teaching that I loved, too. Being my own "boss" in the classroom, the interaction with the kids (when it was good! LOL!), the creativity and resourcefulness I had to use as a teacher, and of course, I adore the topic! Literature and writing.

So explore all your options. Don't rule anything out. Neighboring districts, subbing, getting another advanced degree so you can teach university level, etc.

...then I would have to say I agree with your students.

Only you know, of course. If teaching is something you really like to do, try it again.

Perhaps a different grade level? The younger they are, the nicer they are.

At some schools, there is a culture of students not respecting the teachers. Did you student teach at that school or another school? If it was a different school, perhaps you could apply there since things seemed well there. I don't know how much being fired from teaching effects your teaching job prospects. You could give it another try. You could always sub for a year too, perhaps for a couple different districts if possible.

It was a totally different environment. I think that might be the key: my current school is just the wrong environment for me.

substitute and go back to school for a PhD in English Lit or an EdD in Curriculum and Instruction.

Sounds like English Lit would be more up your alley.

Then you could teach university level.

Just an idea. But you could also look around at neighboring districts. Look for districts that really offer new teacher support. You can be up-front in any interview if you want, and say as a (still) relatively new teacher, you want a school and a district with good support. Any good district will respect and agree with that.

You could have also been in a really dysfunctional/unhealthy school.

She always had a classroom management problem until she took a class on how to manage the classroom. She bribed them to behave. Seriously. She bought bags of candy and cheap toys and they got a check or star or whatever for good behavior. After enough, they got to pick a toy. I don't remember the details if I ever knew. I just telling you what I remember her telling me when I would go as a teen to help her pick out toys and candy. It worked for her.

The first year is the hardest. I once evaluated state programs for new teachers and you needed much more support than you got. I think you should look for a new job and try to get a class in classroom management. If nothing else, it would help you get the next job. Good luck.

On the other hand, if it works, it works. Perhaps I need to take a class on it, too.

Thanks!
:hi:

I hope you end up doing what makes you the most content. :hi:

I should probably stop complaining and start looking.