the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

I'm a first year teacher and I LOVE it. My class is great, and I'm really enjoying most things about the job.

One thing I just CANNOT stand is the mentor that comes in twice a week to conference with me and once to observe. When she conferences with me, it's during a prep so that's 2 less prep periods during the week that I have to do necessary things around my room and planning. I end up staying late after school on the days she comes. Sometimes she will even come in unannounced and get upset when I am too busy to really sit down and talk.

Worst part is, she gives lousy advice and repeats the same things OVER AND OVER. If she said all that she needed to say just ONCE, it would take 10 minutes not the whole period! She also asks me loads of questions about my personal life which I completely resent because it's a huge waste of time.

All of the new teachers are finding this woman annoying and she has quire a reputation with veteran teachers who found her the same way. I can't believe I need to deal with this woman until June!!!

Sorry, just needed to vent here

UPDATE********
I forgot to mention that in addition to the mentor who conferences with me twice a week and observes me once a week........................there is also a staff developer who comes in once a week to observe me and conference with me!!! And, after the break, there will be a teacher from my grade coming in once a week to assist me with a lesson for a period.
That's 3 people I have coming in. Does anyone know what is required for the nyc doe?!??! ughhh

Message edited 10/11/2008 10:41:40 PM.

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts!

I remember having a mentor my first year and fortunately, she was great, but it was annoying to give up ***very much needed*** preps. Is having a mentor mandatory? I ask b/c I had one but other new teachers didn't who came after me. can you see if she cxan only come once a week?

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts!

I am mentoring for the first time this year and this is exactly what I am trying to avoid. I just pop in to his classroom before school once or twice a week for 5 minutes to see how he is doing. I really want him to find this helpful and not a PITA. Sorry you are having such a hard time with it.

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts!

Is it mandated you meet a certain amount of time per week? My first district required 40 hours overall in conjunction with an in service course. Two times a week plus an observation seems a bit much to me.

It also seems like your mentor just really wants someone to talk to. Maybe eating lunch together would be a good idea and then you will not feel as though you wasted a prep period.

NYS requires mentors for all new teachers. If you have already had a mentor (at another school) than it is not required.

Message edited 10/11/2008 1:47:54 PM.

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts!

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts!

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

I am actually a new teacher mentor and the literacy coach in the building. I was told that I needed to spend at least 2 periods or more per week with my assigned new teachers. 1 period of observing/modeling and 1 period to meet. We are required to input this information onto a doe website online. This goes towards your certification which requires you to have 40 completed hours of mentoring for your permenant certification. Because I don't like to sit on my new teachers I asked if after the 40 hours was done if I could leave them alone (unless requested of course and with an occasional pop-in) and was told no, that I must continue my schedule all year. My situation is different because I work in my school so I am fulfilling the requirements for both jobs. When the DOE assigns an outside person it is hard for an administrator to make sure that the mentor is doing the right thing and telling you the right thing. This may be why they are sending in your coach. It is very very overwhelming to have so many people in your room. The in-school people may be seen by the adminstration as additional support (and sometimes undoing what the mentor has done if the mentor is bad which happens!) and those being told to go in may not have a choice. The DOE has appeared to go from one extreme to another. 8 years ago I had no one, then coaches who never showed up. Now the new teachers seem to be flooded with help and it is not always a good thing. If you are comfortable, speak to your immediate supervisor (in a positive way of course)Tell them that although you appreciate the help, you are overwhelmed with so many people in your room and it is adversly affecting your teaching and your students. Make sure that you let them know you understand as a new teacher that you need the help at times, just not in such big dosed. Hope this helps and I hope things get better for you!

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

the city schools used to employ mentors from outside the building. now they use in house teachers as mentors. i think it is so much better. the in house teachers seem to better understand what the new teacher needs and really try to help. i feel your pain!

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

I had to meet with her once a week for 45 minutes last year. It turned into, I need this...help me!! or her coming to me and saying...you need anything. It was never a big deal like this. I think you need 25 mentoring hours...but i'm not 100% sure.

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

wait - i assumed you were in a long island district. that does not sound right for nyc doe. talk to your union rep. in my school new teachers meet once a week on their prep with the mentor (who is an in house teacher) and then the mentor is supposed to come in another period a week to either teach a lesson or observe you doing a lesson. the other people coming in must be at the discretion of your principal because i don't think any of that is mandated. it is normal for a staff developer to help the new teachers. but i think it should be minimal time on your prep and more lesson time to model techniques. ask your union rep or even a 2nd year teacher to find out then norm for your school. you can't have all your prep time stripped away like that.

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

I'm sorry it's going this way. I had a mentor my first full year, and he was excellent. But he also didn't take up nearly that much time.

I think you need to talk to your chapter leader and find out what is required.

OTOH, be grateful you have a literacy coach who is supporting you!

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

i am a new teacher, and i am going through the opposite. I am supposed to meet with my mentor 1 period in class, and 1 period (prep) time to talk.. we've been in school for a month in a half, and I only met with my mentor once. She came in to see a reading workshop toward the middle of september, and i haven't heard from her still. i don't know how i did. everytime we are suppose to meet, i go in to the office, and she is never there. i am writing all these incidents down, because at the end of the year, they better not deduct any hours, b/c i'm compying with policy, but she is not...

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

Re: the mentors are driving me nuts! UPDATE, NEW QUESTION

Posted by PennyCat

Does anyone know what is required for the nyc doe?!??! ughhh