I got observed today. I tried to do all that we have been told to do in the course of a lesson, with the last thing being told to us last night in an email. (They keep adding things to the lessons we have to teach) Well, the class was all out of sorts and I got maybe 1/2 done of what I was supposed to do. Three of the four kids with identified behavior problems were totally off, the class was a mess, and nothing went as planned. I was not a good teacher by any stretch of the imagination. I felt like I was grasping at straws. This is how I have mostly felt this year and probably how I will feel the rest of the year. I am looking for something else to dao. Any ideas about what kind of job I'd be good at? I don't think I want to do this anymore, it's become too hard. I am serious - please give me suggestions on what I'd be good at. It may be worth it to me to take a penalty on my pension just to get out.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

Anything working with people.  Work with the elderly, give guitar lessons, work in a  bank,  at a senior center,  teach computers, tutor at Sylvan or the like, online tutoring, you'd be good at anything you put your hand to.

 That said, I don't think you're washed up - just stressed.  Hugs, many, many hugs. 

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Oh Anne!!! How horrible for you!  I don't want to give you alternatives, because with everything else I've seen of yours, you are a great teacher.  You care.  You try.  You've got a bad group this term; you guys just aren't givving. What about last year's group?  The positives can't be that far away. 

As to your observation, lessons can go out the window. Bad days happen. I hate observations too.  Did you get any notice? Are your observations intended to be for development(really) or strictly assessment?  Can they understand that not everything could possibly be completely under the teacher's control?  Even for the really good teachers with loads of experience who can usually handle anything that gets thrown her way.

I think you'd make a great tour guide/arranger, especially for detailed trips for people wanting to learn about where they are.  Or a music teacher, or a tutor - see how all of these are education related?

What else can we do for you?  Name it!

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

Anne, if I had a way to do it I'd haul you up here to Newfoundland for a break away from everything.  I know you miss it up here, and we miss you terribly!  I keep hoping that things will work out and you'll be able to make it back up this way.  I have a feeling it might be the recharge you need.

 

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Don't feed the idiots or they'll continue being idiots...

First thought: Any chance of you being able to take a sabbatical? (money-wise as well as employment-wise.) It does sound like you may just need a break as opposed to throwing in the towel. Move to another school with fresh, new faces (even trouble kids are easier to take when they're new to you) in another grade (where you'll get a fresh, new curriculum)?

Second thought: You will always be a teacher at heart and might find yourself restless with a regular job. Switching to teaching music or tutoring would ease the stress (of course, it would probably also lower the bank account). Considering your wonderful show reviews, any chance you could supplement the tutoring with writing columns for a newspaper?

 If you're worried about your review (as opposed to just being tired of the whole thing), you may not need to worry so much. The people reviewing have seen everything and know that kids will purposely act up when there's others in the classroom. If anything can possibly go wrong, it always does at the worst moment. In the mean time, hang on. Things may look better after Christmas holidays. 

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

One more thing...Chris knows you as a teacher, knows what you are like and will know what this day was like. Trust her. She appreciates YOU.

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

You could teach at home. I don't know if you need social interaction as much or if you'd like to work from home doing your own thing.

 I write for a living, but other teachers are starting to work from home grading essay scores/writing/research... lots of things. I don't know what mindframe you may be in as far as that goes, but it's an option to explore, and you can start out part time while you're figuring out what else you want to do.

 WorkPlaceLikeHome.com or RatRaceRebellion.com has more info. (Hope it's ok to share the links. I don't own either of the sites.)

Sounds to me like everyone knows what a good job you do as a teacher :)

Just wanted to add one more thing as an expansion of what I said. A change of scenery can do wonders without actually leaving teaching.

My brother-in-law is pushing 40. He hasn't had to suffer quite as long as you but still has lots of experience. He's one of the very few that is possibly as enthusiastic now about teaching as he was when he was an idealistic student teacher thinking he could change the world. It's partly personality with him but also because he's changed scenery over the years. He started by teaching Kindergarten in the Eastern Townships of Quebec in one school, moved to another for grade 6, & another as vice-principal (at a school that shared it's principal with 2 other schools so he did all the work of a principal minus the paperwork). He then decided that wasn't for him and wanted to return to teaching. He is now teaching English at the High-school level at a French school in New Brunswick that runs Kindergarten to grade 11 (or 12). 

I know that before the school year started, you were miffed because on your school's site you were listed with the wrong grade, but perhaps that is exactly what you need (though more than one grade of change). Don't know how easy it would be for you to change grades and schools, but perhaps that's what will breathe new life into you.

And if it doesn't work, buy one of Glenn's houses and move yourself up to live near Bonnie for some real fresh air :) 

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Anne, if you can teach, it's a gift...so look outside of the "regular" world of teaching.  Have you ever tried technical writing?  My husband did this for a while on a part-time basis (he was a teacher in the military, trained by the military, teaching new airmen the job he'd been doing for umpteen years).  It can be quite lucrative...it's not terribly exciting work, alot of behind the scenes stuff, but for a while that might be a refreshing change.  Corporations, particularly manufacturers, government, etc, need folks who will write a curriculum for a new product or methodology and then teach that curriculum to its employees.  My husband did that for a local phone company...just a thought. 

You might also look into private schools or Montessori schools, though the Montessori schools would require special training for you...you'll find a different clientele there.  The pay will not be as good, but the rewards for many are well worth the pay cut.  Look also into Slingerland training if you have none - the private schools for dyslexic children (like the one my daughter attended for three years) tend to teach using that methodology and they are an absolute GODSEND to dyslexic children and their parents.  Your special skill set having dealt these many years with the more difficult kids that you've had will be very welcome in that environment...many dyslexic children, when they become so frustrated and upset with knowing that they aren't "getting it" like the other kids, resort to acting out and serious behavior problems.  And the older the child when he/she enters the school just for dyslexic kids, the more behavior issues to start, but they quickly turn around when they start seeing that they really can learn, just in a different way...it's the ultimate reward for many of those teachers, God bless them!!!

Whatever you do, do what will rejuvenate you so you can continue to share your gifts - God gave them to you for that purpose!!!  Love ya - and will keep you in my prayers.

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Jo

YES!  BombMom has the right idea - private school!  Not only won't your talent be stuffed under the bushel basket of kids' health and behavior problems; but you won't have inept bureaucrats and political climbers trying to enforce multiple conflicting and meaningless standards.

You might also look into working with elders.  You've got the patience and the flexibility, and you could even do public-sector work there because elders aren't an emotional-political wishbone like kids are.  And you've already shown that you can get elders fired up about music!

Love, Columbine 

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Anne, you are a great writer...you know education, you work well with people, you ARE an educator..have you considered writing texts, curricula, children's books?  Or on the other side, adult education, teacher training? Or how about in the writing assessment area for PA's state standardized tests - someone has to read, assess and grade those pieces for thousands of students.

Hopefully your Observers will be able to recognize your skill at doing your best to teach a group of very difficult children who were doing their best, it would seem, to prevent you from teaching.

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Helen




I'm goin' Straight to Hell-On-Wheels!

Dear Anne,

 I am so sorry you had the day you did, and from one who is in the trenches of the Public Education system with you, I feel your pain. I only know you from your posts here, and in that small bit of interaction I feel safe saying you are going to be wonderful at everything you choose to do (and I don't for one second think you are anything less than an amazing teacher). I hope you can go to school tomorrow and talk to your admin., I know that you may not have that option. I have been in the same place you are right now recently and have seriously been considering going back to school for acupuncture. If there is anything I can do to help, even if it's just listen if you need someone to vent to, please get in touch with me. *****HUGS***** I'll be thinking of you and I hope tomorrow is better.

Ann 

ps (I don't care that they lost) GO PHILLIES!!!!!!!

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Dream Big
Live life to it's fullest, every day.

P.S. Do consider that they might be under budgetary pressure to hammer you with inadequacy bombs to get you to quit before you're eligible for your full pension.  Take it with a boxcar of salt in light of that.  Anybody over 4 years old can see that you're an idealist, and that's an underbelly so soft and white that it glows in the dark.

Love, Columbine 

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Anne,

Quit your job. We'll jump in the car and follow Bob around from show to show for an entire year! We'll be at every show until he's so sick of us, he throws an accordion at us.

But seriously. What ever you decide to do, you will be awesome at it. You've touched many lives. It's what you do. And you do it well.

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Love,

I get so lost sometimes...

Ooooo Anne,

 I really like Delaney's idea much better, can I join you guys? I'll leave Bob alone, really, I'll get tickets in front of the rest of the guys (one concert Sean, then next Alan, then Murray). I'll even volunteer to be the drivier (I have a Prius, less gas money) If I pick you up today we could make it for the end of this tour ;-)

The other Ann 

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Dream Big
Live life to it's fullest, every day.