It's over...

Can you believe it guys...it's over? The classes are coming to an end, the homework is almost complete, the fines are almost gone (which is great because of the tuition increase), and it is finally time to get into the classroom full time. Has it flown by?? I have been in college since the Fall of 2005 and it feels like i just started and now it is over. I am scared to death to enter the classroom and have the lives of 80-100 kids in my hands for 8 hours a day...but with being scared, i am full of excitement. I can't help but think to myself: will they take me seriously? I am only 3 years older than some of my students, but have been through the college experience and learned so much, that i think they should...but will they? I know all of these questions have probably entered your minds...but it is just scary to think about it. It's over now...and it is time to grow up... :'(

Teachers go to Wal Mart too.

I just had to laugh at my own title... When my mom, an eighth grade American History teacher, and I go shopping we occasionally bump into one of her students. I always chuckle when the students gaze at my mother in awe and exclaim, "What are you doing here?"

It is important for me as a teacher to take time for myself by doing normal (outside of school) activities. When I read this chapter I had to think to myself "when was the last time I read a book for pleasure?" The answer--Christmas break. Hmm... Even as a college student I should do things or activities that I enjoy.

On another topic I found this cheap but funny film that sums up the entire chapter. Here is the link--

www.needleworkspictures.com/ocr/blog?p=289

If I hear the term "burnout" one more time...

Burnout is all anybody is talking about lately. At least it seems that way. My husband is a teacher (special ed and science) and he talks about his colleagues being burned out. I have several very good friends who are teachers, and they constantly talk about the burnout rate. I read about the burnout rate in text books. Etc, etc, etc. I'm tired of hearing about it. Any employee of any profession can suffer from burnout. It's all about how you handle yourself. Have outlets (as Kendra mentioned), make your classes fun and full of variety, enjoy yourself, keep your sense of humor, and think of how fortunate you are to be doing something you love and getting paid (albeit not that well) for it!
I would be interested to see who of us are still teaching in 10 or 15 years. We've all got such potential to be great teachers, but I know the stresses of the profession will probably get to some of us. I don't see myself giving up on teaching any time soon. I've spent waaaay too much money and time on this to give up on teaching easily. I'm really excited about my first year of teaching next year. I'm nervous as crap, but excited nonetheless!

The Textbooks

For my last blog post I wanted to talk about the textbooks that we just finished reading. When I first started reading Making the Journey, I was pretty excited to read a textbook written by a real teacher with real advice. Then I realized that Deeper Reading was essentially the same book as Making the Journey. What I didn't like about tehse books is that neither one had much in regards to controversy. As I trudged along with tehse two books I never felt inspired by the anecdotes provided. Each chapter started to feel like a chore. I'm not saying that there wasn't value in the texts, but I am saying that when I'm sure this class is over I will be selling them. I can't see myself referencing these texts when I start teaching. I wasn't expecting them to reinvent the wheel (gotta love the cliche) , I was just hoping that these would be books that I could use when I felt like I was in a bind in my first years of teaching. Instead I got two books full of common sense advice.

Avoiding Burnout

Since the first day of the first education class that I took, I have been warned about the awful aspects of teaching. I've been told the statistics, that half of teachers quit their first year. I've been told that I would cry on the drive home because of the horrible encounters I was going to face. I've been told that the administrators will destroy my love for teaching with their evil regulations. I have also been told about the cynical robotic behavior of the students that I will be teaching. All of these warnings and I still stayed in the education program. Why? Because I don't give a rat's ass what other people think my reaction will be to these things.

At this point I might just succeed so that I can spite the ones who told me it would be too hard. I think that some of the teachers quit because they hate their students going in. Before the first day begins they decide that they hate their students. I always wonder where the hell these failed teachers go when they quit. Do they piss away their hard earned education for a shitty job at Wal-Mart? Do they get a different degree? Wherever they go I say good riddance. We don't need teachers who are willing to throw in the towel after a couple of tough years. When I start teaching I want to be around people who like what they are doing.

I think that going into this career you need to remember what it was like being in the position of your students. Don't just assume that your lessons aren't going over because of the lazy kids. Maybe you are presenting the lesson in a boring way that makes your students want to cut themselves. You should always assume that it is your presentation of the material, not that the students are lazy. Don't forget what it's like to be in a boring class with a teacher that hates you.

I don't plan on being a statistic. I don't care what the warnings are. I thought long and hard about what career I wanted to persue and I chose teaching because I thought that it would be fulfilling and meaningful. That and I still remember how terrible some of my high school teachers were and I feel like I have to prove to them that you don't have to be a boring jerk to get students to learn.

Will I be a statistic?

I would hope not. After spending this amount of money to join a specific profession. I better like it. I think I will, though. I've had a lot of fun in my student teaching practicums and it feels like I was meant to do this in life. That's a very good sign. My mentor teacher this time told me she was a statistic the first day I went in and she was burned out, after just five years. She doesn't like the education restrictions enforced by administration. But, I've also meant teachers that are going to have to force themselves to retire. So, Christenbury definitely brings to play some accurate scenerios in chapter 11. I agree with Joseph. It's all what we make it. We can focus on the negative things, or we can pursue a great career that gives a lot of oppurtunity with an open and positive mind that will shape our future about all endeavors, whether that means teaching or some other position in education. It's up to us. Everything boils down to a choice. I just want to say that I've really enjoyed collaberating with all of you and hope to work with some of you in my new career. It's been great fun learning new ideas and sharing them with you guys. I think we should all pursue keeping the education system a great place to be by taking part in the 4 Contemporary Challenges Christenbury brings in to focus: 1 standards 2 testing and reporting 3 increased awareness in muliculturalism 4 being a professional activist. One of us could have a major influence on bettering the educational system if we take part in the areas that make or break it. Put on your dancin shoes. It's almost our time to shine.

Priscilla

Chapter 11

What a chapter to end on. I can see various reasons why teachers could get burnt out on teaching. I worked with a teacher while I was in high school for a cadet teaching program who said she was burnt out with the job but kept doing it because she felt she was too old to do anything else. Something I noticed about her, and also about other teachers who have become burnt out, is that she had a very defined routine for her classroom.

Every day the students would come into the room, and there would be a D.O.L. (Daily Oral Language for those who may have never had these in high school) on the board for the students to complete. After five minutes, two students would correct the sentences on the board, and they would move on to a story in the book. They would read the story aloud with the reader moving up and down along the rows of students. After reading the story, they would answer the questions at the back of the story, and whatever questions they didn't finish in class were taken home as homework. They turned these questions in daily. Everyday, it was the same routine, excluding the one novel they read each semester and a trip to the library every two weeks.

How could you not get burnt out if you taught using the same exact routine for twenty-something years? I think that an important part of staying fresh and excited about your job is changing things up once in a while. If you're teaching the same routine seven times a day for twenty years, of course it's going to get old.

By popular demand...at the top!

Burnout...

Chapter 11 in Christenbury really got me thinking a lot about burnout. I have a mother for a teacher, and she has taught for 25+ years and doesn't plan on retiring any time soon. How do you avoid burnout? I think a lot of it has to do with your mental makeup, the support you get from other teachers, and what kind of administration you work under. Christenbury correlates talking about certain things and burnout, but I think that the burnout influences the talk, not the other way around. I also heard one of the coolest teachers I've ever had (Tita Baumlin) say recently that you have to have passions outside of your work environment in order to survive and be happy...so I guess that's some advice from an awesome, experienced teacher as well.

I do love the encouragement Christenbury gives about us keeping up our reading as teachers. If we expect students to read, love reading, or get anything out of reading, then I do believe we must be continuing to do the same. Teachers who are out of touch or don't care, reflect that in their teaching...and hopefully teachers that really love reading reflect that as well.

THE END!!!!

Well, these two books were great and have become valuable resources, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't glad that they are finished. No offense to Christenbury or Gallagher.....I'm just spent.

However, I got a little scared at a part of what she said. I honestly feel like I can see myself teaching for the rest of my career. Sure, I might jump around the country or at least around a few school districts, but I see myself teaching for a long, long time. But what if I'm one of the teachers that burn out immediately - that get too caught up in all of the crap that goes along with it, that I miss the joy that comes with this field of work?? I would be crushed - especially since this was a second career choice that involved 3 additional years of school (yep, that's right - 7 years of college).

I'd like to think that this won't be me. I mean, I have learned how to work full time and go to school full time (in addition to all of the other things I am involved in), so its not like busyness is not a familiar condition for this girl. But part of me is still scared of it. I just can't see myself doing anything else with my life, so if its not teaching.........

So I take to heart the advice that she gives - having an outlet, having my own social time, reading my own books, finding a hobby to pursue, etc. These will be part of the answer to keeping me in the classroom for as long as I love it. And I hope that's a really long time.

And with that, farewell to the blog!!

Chapter 11

Its funny as I was reading Chapter 11, I didn't really think that any new information was given, but at the same time, I was interested in what Christenbury was saying. Then I came to the part about BURNOUT. It was odd that Christenbury had brought the reasons up on why teachers don't stay in the teaching profession. See, just yesterday I was approached by a woman I know and she told me that as soon as I was done teaching she had a job waiting for me, even if it was 2 or 3 years from now since as she said, "teachers don't last long". I must have looked at her like she was crazy, not that she was saying anything I had not heard before, but it was the fact that I had never really thought about myself being one of the teachers that left the profession early, really early for the matter. This woman said it so matter of a fact, like she knew I would be calling her in a few years wanting this great job that did have quite a few perks...but it was missing one important thing, I wasn't going to be helping students and having an impact on their education and their lives! So when I read Christenbury's section on teacher burnout, I really read it (does that make sense??!!). I'm glad that she wrote about why teachers might leave after just a year or two and why teachers stay in the classroom. If I am more aware of reasons why teachers leave, I will be able to recognize them faster and hopefully be more prepared to deal with them head on rather than leave a profession I am SO excited to enter!!!!!

They still need an education, but some things have changed.

After reading Christenbury describe the similarities and differences that exist in schools today I realized, as she said, that school has not changed much in structure but the purpose of the school is growing to include personal needs and not just education.  This represents the change of times.  While she mentions this in the chapter, I think it is important as future teachers that we remember that whether we like it or not or job of giving students of education is evolving.  Students are looking more and more to their teachers for advice, encouragement, comfort, someone they can trust.  People are getting busier and busier with life and having time to invest in your own  child in some instances gets put on the back burner.  Students look at teachers as someone that can give them a chance.  Students will rebel against us because we are authority figures but am I willing to give up on students, give up on the future because kids are being kids or will I be able to see through that and reach students.  If you just read all of this thanks for reading my ramblings.

Making the Journey...

Christenbury, if nothing else, gives us many ways to look at our teaching styles in this chapter. We can be maniacal and devote 110% of our time to our class and end up hating our students, our job and ourselves, or...

We can take the road less traveled for new teachers. Balance our workload, keep grading and planning work at school (including griping to your spouse), and find someone at school you can share with when times are hard.

I find this to be a successful bit of advice in any profession. As a much older student, I've had numerous jobs where I have attempted to do my best, but have been hampered by rules, mandates, and bureaucracy. My solution has been to find someone who you can gripe to. You don't want to find someone who is overly negative, as they may push you to the "disgruntled" personality. You want someone who can agree when they should and help you find that light at the end of the tunnel when it's there. This will keep you balanced, but feeling like you have a true avenue for venting.

~Stan

20 years down the road...

Can you imagine that in 20 years, you will be sitting at your computer reflecting on all the times you put into your classroom? 20 years in a classroom...in any place...seems like a long time. Do you know how many students you will have in 20 years of teaching? Do you think it is important to make a connection with each of these students throughout the time spent in your classroom? Well, I do. I know that after 20 years of teaching, i will be able to look back and reflect on the fact that i touched almost 2000 students lives. I think this will be an amazing feeling. For a feeling like this, do you really think it will be easy? No- it will not be easy. In fact, the first 5 years are going to be the hardest, but we must return to the classroom every day, year after year, because we have students lives to affect. My favorite teacher in high school (one who i still talk to every week) was in the classroom for 30 years before i had her as a teacher and she still seemed enthusiastic about her material every day. Yes, she has probably been teaching the same information year after year for the past however many years, but she still loved it and still did it every day. Now that she is retired, she is back in the classroom subbing at least 3 days a week because she loves it so much. I hope that in 20 or 30 years i will be as excited about teaching. I know that seems like a long way away-- but i am excited for that feeling!

Wow.  I can't believe it is about that time where I can replenish my wallet with green and see my lists of things to do become less daunting.

It is weird to be done with both Gallagher and Christenbury, and now I am nervous about student teaching, and I fear that I'm not going to be a natural at this whole teaching thing.  I have always had this idea in my head that most people who come into this profession chose it because a parent or family member is a teacher.  You know - "my grandma and mom are both teachers and I have always wanted to follow in their footsteps" type thing.  It seems like they are meant to be in the classroom and will be so natural at it. Well, I definitely don't have anyone in my family that was or is in the teaching profession, and as a little girl, I remember saying that I didn't want to be a teacher.  All this goes to say that the people who knew that they were going to be teachers all along intimidate me because it seems so natural for them and something that they have wanted for so long. Sometimes I still wonder if I'll succeed in this profession and if I will love it.  I was so encouraged when Christenbury quotes Susan Ohanian when she states, "It is possible, I suppose, to have an inborn talent for teaching, but I am sure that those teachers who endure and triumph are made - rigorously trained - and not born" (297).  It is good to be reminded that becoming a teacher is a constant learning process and something that you aren't born with.  Sometimes it may not come naturally, and that is okay.

I also think that to "love" my job also means having a life separate from it.  Burn-out is a scary thought for me, and I think that one of the hardest things to do will be to make sure that I am taking time out for myself and enjoying my life, apart and away from my job.  I like that Christenbury says that you should buy season tickets or schedule social times so that you make yourself get out once in a while.  I think it can be so easy to just stay home and claim "I'm tired."  If we fail to make ourselves "get out" once in a while or spend time on ourselves, eventually we may find that we are unhappy, and ultimately our jobs will become less than enjoyable.

Self-Explanatory

Another Article TELLing You What to Do

This post is in homage, so to speak, to another blog reel I write, which everyone should check out and comment on whenever you are able: Half the Gladdness Thy Brain Should Know.

Now, I say this because on that blog I put articles within paragraphs of my own opinion and it's up to the reader to follow the link and gather more vital information. Because of the controversy from last week, I've decided to put a link to a website that TELLS you what to expect in the first year of teaching... to not scare you away. Now, if you've read the last big story "The Job is the Fight," then you may realize quickly that I don't really take to too many of these quotes. But I think they're fun and worth discussing (especially if you want to argue with some of them as much as I do).

Still, don't fret, Stan and Kevin, I'm working on another post that's sure to get under someone's skin. Keep your gloves up and no hitting below the belt... let's get it on!

Chapter 11

As I was reading the "Staying in the Classroom" section of chapter 11, there was one part that really stuck out to me. The statistic that 30-40% of beginning teachers do not return to their classrooms. I realized that not 100% of teachers always return to the classroom, but I had no idea the number was that high, especially for beginning teachers. Honestly, that's pretty scary. I really don't think I will be one of those statistics, but you never know. The section says that many of the reasons that teachers don't return to their classrooms is because of isolation from other professionals, pressure, the workload, and the constant demand from administrators, teachers, students. etc. I feel I am pretty prepared for those things, although I guess I don't know until I actually find out. My practicum teacher did emphasize how much work she does and how she feels it takes away from her family. She told me numerous times how she stayed up till 1 a.m. grading papers and she still isn't done.. or how she has this to grade and has this time limit to do it in...
All I can do is just try to do the best I can and deal with everything one at a time. And hopefully, I won't be another statistic.

Some Food for Thought...

I have been reading through the blog, trying to go from beginning to end. It is really interesting reading what people have written. However, while reading I was reminded of something that I think most of you will enjoy.

Many of our post include sayings like "I want to make a difference' or "I want to be there for my students." Reading these comments and ones like them reminds me of a student teacher I had when I was in ninth grade. Every morning while she was there, before beginning the class, while we were doing our daily reading, she would make cards. Simple things really, made out of pieces of construction paper, and would write encouraging messages on them. The messages would be of so many different aspects. They could be some thing like "your hair looks really pretty today," "that shirt is awesome," and could go to something like "your comment about X was really interesting yesterday." Sometimes she could tel our moods and write comments that reflect what we were thinking and give us encouragement if our mood was not a pleasing one.

I have to say that I really appreciated those little comment cards. In fact she left such an impact with me, even though she was only a student teacher, that I kept in contact with her for years after ninth grade, and I believe I still have most of the cards that she gave me almost ten years ago.

Many of you talk about making an impact with your students. By simply showing that you care enough about them to write them personal notes every day (sometimes she didn't get a chance to write them every day but it was most days), you make an impact. I guess you could say that it is the "little things that count."

One More Thing

I didn't understand what the big deal was with the teacher who let her studen write about Wicca. I'm no 1st ammendment scholar but I'm pretty sure the Supreme Court has covered religious expression in student papers.