1st year question/vent

So I am in my first year and I feel like i am doing everything wrong. I feel like i am not teaching them enough. Not sure if I am teaching them the right things. Feel like most are not getting it. A lot of my students don't really put in any effort, so I know I can't do everything for them. We have a pacing calender and I am behind, so I can't slow down anymore....I just can't understand how i am supposed to teach so much in so little time. I do have 1 special ed and one class that is considered low level. It's frustrating!!

I am planning the night before, I can't get ahead of myself and I am tired. I just fell like UUUUUUUGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!


Please tell me that i am not the only one who feels this way. I just feel like everyone else has it together!

Message edited 1/18/2008 5:31:55 PM.

Re: 1st year question/vent

You will catch up. I swear. Here's what you gotta do. Stop planning the night before. Not that it's bad, but it is not good for YOU! Trying starting by planning weekly. Do it on Fridays. I put all my lessons on post it notes in my planner so if I don't get to something, I just move the post it note and I don't stress. Start weeding out the BS. And there is a lot. What grade(s) do you teach?

Re: 1st year question/vent

7th - math

no matter how hard i try i can not do it all at once. If i sit down to plan 3 lessons it takes me alll that time to do one. It takes me far too long to plan one lesson. It takes me forever to decide what i am going to do and them to try and make it work.

I also have a smartboard, so I type the whole thing up on that everytime.

Re: 1st year question/vent

Well, hopefully all this hard work will pay off next year when the load is a whole lot less because you will have done it all. KWIM? So to the same job next year!

As for the smart board, I can't tell you much b/c I've never used one.

Go to the beginning. What is it that is taking so much time?

Typing the lessons?

Preparing the lessons?

Understanding the lessons?

Are there distractions that cause you to pause constantly?

What do you do with your preps?

Do you plan on weekends?

Are you in a routine yet?

Re: 1st year question/vent

I remember going from night to night in my first year, too. I think that's the nature of that year because it's so hard to know how long things will take if you've never done them before. It does get better, though. I promise. Also, as far as what you're teaching them? I'm sure it's better than you think. I look back at my first year and at the mistakes I now know I made, and in the end, they still learned, and it didn't matter. (Those kids are graduating from college now, so clearly being in a first year teacher's class once upon a time didn't hurt them at all. ) FM, though, if you want to talk. I remember it well.

Re: 1st year question/vent

The first year is always the hardest. It does get easier. When you are planning your lessons, do you write a full lesson plan for every lesson. I don't think I've written a formal lesson plan since I was in library school. You can just jot down some bullet points for yourself and the sample problems step by step

Re: 1st year question/vent

The first year is exhausting. Next year, it will take you less time to do lesson plans. It will eventually get better! Hang in there!

Re: 1st year question/vent

it really will get better with time!! promise!

Re: 1st year question/vent

First year I was the same way - every night I came home to plan the next day. Next year will be easier! Do you have to use the smart board every day? It's a great idea - but creates much more planning time. What can you do to simplify? Then next year you can improve. Good luck!

Re: 1st year question/vent

i am first year kindergarten and feel the same wy sometimes but then i look at the assesments i did in spet with my kids and now....remember that every class is different, and needs their own pace, etc. (in 7th too you know!) so you shouldn't compare yours to other teachers....lol...ok, i know i am being a hypocrite right now too....easier said than done!

i am sure you are doing great - do you have a mentor? if so, try talking to them about it....or someone else you trust at school...and see if they can figure out how to help alleviate some of it....

good luck - and we are all in the same boat at times!!

Re: 1st year question/vent

This is my second year teaching and the good news is that it does get easier. Definitely do all that you can to plan in advance and not the night before. My dept chair required all lesson plans to be handed in the Friday before so she could review them and that was a real life saver.

Also - are there other seventh grade math teachers? I know some people are not willing to share, but many are. Try to use other teachers to your advantage. Ask them how they structure their classes and for students who are a big lower functioning ask their other teachers which methods they use to help those particular students learn.

Re: 1st year question/vent

I am new here, but I share your pain. It's my first year as a first grade teacher with the Board of Education. I have more bad days than good. I have lost weight, and I just want silence when I get home..lol. It is definitely not easy!

Re: 1st year question/vent

First year is very hard, you will get through it and be a better teacher for it

Re: 1st year question/vent

I know how you're feeling. I'm in my third year now. My first year was an absolute horror. I was stressed out 24/7, I could never relax and was a disorganized mess. I still now have trouble planning in advance, but it's gotten a lot easier, and over time you'll calm down and learn not to let these things bother you as much... remember it's just a job, remind yourself not to take any of it too seriously (I know it's hard to think of it that way but it's true). If you think teaching is for you for the long term, just hang in there and you'll find it'll get better.

Re: 1st year question/vent

thanks for all of the posts! It is nice to know that people lived through it. I really do like teaching, I just fell like i am getting burnt and I hate to feel like all of my free time goes into the job!