I feel like a failure.

Thanks ladies!

Message edited 9/17/2009 7:33:25 PM.

Re: I feel like a failure.

First and foremost

I would take a deep breath and remember school just started...your doing great! Keep in mind you are the teacher and it's your classroom, not the parents. Your also human and will make some slips as you go....it's okay.

In terms of the assessment.....you can just give the kids the test, but don't call it a test, maybe call it a challenge. Just b/c you are testing them to see their level, doesn't mean they have to be aware of it. The longer I teach the more I remind myself that it may seem like a race, but it's not. Slow and steady.....things will get done and as the days go by, things will start to fall into place. Don't worry about the notes from the parents so much. Most of the time parents are worried themselves and want to make sure they are doing the right thing at home.

Your doing great!

Message edited 9/16/2009 9:06:38 PM.

Re: I feel like a failure.

This was me yesterday! Some days are just TOTALLY overwhelming!!

I am sorry the parents are putting so much pressure on you!! Honestly, I feel like in our field you will never be able to please everyone........ you have to consider your students... administration.... parents........ It's hard to get a 100% approval rate. I would say do your job the way you feel it will be best for the students. If that's the case, the administration will support you and that's what's most important! As for the parents..... you're the teacher, you have an education background as I'm sure many of them do not!! I would gently explain to them that this is the way things are done in your classroom. Don't show them that they can intimidate you- if you want to give a quiz Friday, give it!

Do you know what the situation for these students was last year? Did they have a bad experience with their second grade teacher?

This situation sounds foreign to me because I don't know from overly involved parents....... in my experience, the parents were not nearly as involved as they should be, yet always seem shocked when I call them to say their kid has x number of missing homework assignments...... or has failed a test Ah parents. I don't know which was is worse for us, honestly!!