Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school? Thanks ladies.............

It's my first year at my current school, and I just don't feel like I really fit in.

Is this normal? Does anyone else feel like this too? I feel like I don't really belong there. Of course with this economy, I would be absolutely CRAZY to look for a position in a different school. And, of course a part of me worries that it's not THEM, it's ME, and I will feel like this at any school. I just don't know.

Not to sound cliche here or anything, but I feel like a pair of polka-dot socks in a drawer filled with solid blue hats.

**** Thanks ladies....... I would respond to everyone individually but my comments would basically be the same - which is, thank you so much for the support. It's good (yet sad) to know that some of you have experienced this before too.
Some days are of course better than others, but I am hoping to feel more comfortable my 2nd year The teachers on my grade are one big group and they all get together outside of school VERY often! ... I am hoping that by next year I connect with a teacher who is also married and lives in the neighborhood. I usually don't care about mixing work with my social life but lets face it- we go to school for 7+ hours a day- it would be nice to see a friendly face.

If the economy wasn't bad and my plan to take a maternity leave (not TTC yet but will soon) wasn't so close, I'd probably be looking elsewhere.

Message edited 3/4/2009 6:20:25 PM.

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

Give it time!

Really, a lot of new teachers feel this way. You are feeling your way and in time will find your niche.

Do you have a mentor to help you. My mentor helped me understand the school culture. Also, everyone sees you as a new teacher. In your 2nd year, that won't be the case and you will feel a little more like an "old timer"

In the mean time, observe, listen more than you talk in the faculty room. It gets better!

Good luck

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

I have been in three schools and this did happen to me once. This year though I am a new teacher and feel as though I totally belong.

I wish you the best of luck

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

This is my second year at my school and this year I feel that I dont belong there AT ALL-
I will definately be looking for a new school.... hang in there!!! and please FM me if you want to talk!!!

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

The same thing happened to me one year. It was a very small school and everyone had their cliques. They were nice but I felt left out a lot. The next year I was in a large school and I fit in instantly, I had a great group of friends. It's not you, it really depends on the people you work with.

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

I definitely felt this way for a while..luckily, in my school, where it was a lot of older teachers, younger teachers started coming in and we kind of got together..it takes time..you'll find someone but it might take time..schools are like jr high all over unfortunately and it takes time for people...if you need to, FM me whenever you'd like and feel better...

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school?

I felt like this at my old school...Felt that I never really fit in. That school was huge.

My first year at my current school I felt that way as well. No one really asked me to eat lunch and it depressed me to no end. I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that teachers were always coming and going at my school and some of the teachers who had been there for a while didn't want to get to know the new teachers because they may not be there too long...Well here is is three years later and I feel like I have been there 10 years.

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school? Thanks ladies.............

I can relate too....not everyone but a few teachers make me feel so silly.....like i made the choice (not the sup!) to put me there.....

Re: Anyone else NOT feel a sense of belonging at their school? Thanks ladies.............

This happened to me at one school I taught at....all year I felt like an outsider & I was hired in Sept. & the other 3rd grade teacher felt threatened by me b/c she had been by herself in 3rd for 15 yrs. She did everything she could to make me look bad.

Thankfully my principal was a big fan of mine--but it still was uncomfortable all year. I never quite fit in.

It makes it hard, but try to make the best of it. This is my 2nd year in this school & thankfully the environment is quite different here & they made it even better by hiring a new teacher this year that I've become quite close to.

Things change...try to make the best of it until June, I'm sure they'll be some changes in Sept.