Jan, another delightful read! As a retired teacher, it resonated with me..on a “ little” different level, I taught kindergarten or first grade. Like you every fall I was eager to begin another year, even had the first day of school jitters. My biggest worry was getting the little ones on the right bus home, they didn’t know which one was going their way. The routes/ bus numbers changed every year! By February the tiredness started to kick in, then one of the little kids would start putting all the reading skills together…such a joy to see the “ light” come on for them. There was one year, that was a year! I had 4 little boys that were a handful everyday, as I would leave for school my husband would say “ don’t let the boys win”… they never did! I loved teaching those eager kids….now some of the other stuff we teachers had to do not so much.
Thanks for sharing, Linda! I chuckled reading about you “herding” those little kindergarteners to the buses. I always had first day jitters too. As a high school teacher, I thought I’d never remember 150 names. By the end of the year, I couldn’t forget them. Ha ha!
It was kind of like when you think all your ducks are in a row suddenly one becomes a squirrel…..it was such a relief after 3 days when they learned which bus was the way home. By biggest joy was seeing the progress from September to June, many didn’t even know how to write their name or have a clue about letters or numbers.
Since I'll get June and July off (we go back August 5 now) we are hanging on. Completed my last lecture yesterday! No amount of Doritos and Pepsi can propel me through April and May. For me, it's spring break that starts summer fever. The weather starts getting nice and it's so hard to focus!
I'll put planning aside for a week or two, but College Board has restructured AP Psychology, so I have to revamp ALL of my instructional material, and that's just one of these classes I teach!
But I cannot say I don't enjoy it, at all. Most days are fun. Some days are rotten, but the good outweigh the bad. I may need that reminder next April.
I agree that there were so many more good days (and years) than bad, but I do remember how tired I always was -- how I couldn't wait to go to bed each night & how I didn't want to get up each morning. Thank heavens! That bone-weary feeling is gone with retirement. I used to keep an open can of Pepsi in the refrigerator in the Teacher Lounge and run in between classes just to keep me going. Ha! When I interviewed at Marion Tech, they asked if I'd be comfortable using their materials. I almost did handstands. I wanted to shout, "Are you kidding? Do you know how much instructional material I've had to prepare in my life?" I'm so proud of you, Dr. Ritter!!!! Remember that next April. Hugs & High 5's
I worked in schools for five or ten years as a school counselor , school librarian, substitute teacher , and classroom guest speaker. Some teachers I knew were like surrogate parents to their students. Even though I loved the kids, I found the job demanding, and stressful in so many ways - and that was 20-30 years ago. It seems as if the demand and stress is even more so now with increased school violence, bullying, social media influence, and volumes of paperwork included in the task of trying to teach children. So, my hat is off to all teachers each and every day!
I'm with you, Janice. My two daughters tell me it is much more challenging today. I can't imagine where things are going... Will be interesting to watch. I just try to support them when I can.
My daughter was a substitute teacher for over ten years in the San Francisco Bay Area and has given it up - the responsibility, the potential for violence , and the demands were more than she cared to continue with.
I can't imagine being a sub now! I had a new young teacher tell me lately that her bio students throw things at her & call her names. She wasn't that upset about it. OMG can that be coming the norm? Yikes!
All the teachers I know are more than done this time of year. It takes so much energy to corral a classroom of students and actually teach them what they need to know. When I volunteered in my kids' classrooms, one day was exhausting for me! Bless all the teachers - they are heroes in my book!
As I traverse my last day of the school year your words strike so much truth. I love being in my classroom, but it is truly one of the most thankless jobs ever. I have been bashed by people who have never met me on social media, talked down to by parents, under-paid by administration, yet I still show up everyday. Why? Because my students matter to me. My principal recently said in a staff meeting - "the days are long and the year is short", that is how I feel walking into my classroom for the last time this school year. Blessings to all the teachers who still show up and for the support of those who have walked in our shoes. - Thank you for a wonderful and timely writing.
Love this! I am laughing as I read this, I can relate. I was a para educator for 18 years, in two different school systems. After the pandemic, I did go back, but only for one year. The kids were horrific. And I thought I was too old for that. I loved my job working as a para educator. I liked it better at the first school. But I think a lot depended on that my supervisors. My supervisors, special ed teachers, were more hands on and more dedicated At the first school. At the second store Then special ed teacher bullied myself, and a couple other para educators. And I was the oldest person working for her, and I left because I didn’t deserve to be treated like she was treating me. The other two para educators that she bullied also, left too.
Another great story Jan. And I needed a good laugh this morning, thanks for providing that. Hugs my friend. Have a great day, Full of blessings!
It's true, Jan. Being a teacher is a beautiful job but a bit exhausting. Working with children post-pandemic is challenging. Here we have had a week's vacation and we are just finishing the first term of school, so as you can see we are just getting started.
Jan, another delightful read! As a retired teacher, it resonated with me..on a “ little” different level, I taught kindergarten or first grade. Like you every fall I was eager to begin another year, even had the first day of school jitters. My biggest worry was getting the little ones on the right bus home, they didn’t know which one was going their way. The routes/ bus numbers changed every year! By February the tiredness started to kick in, then one of the little kids would start putting all the reading skills together…such a joy to see the “ light” come on for them. There was one year, that was a year! I had 4 little boys that were a handful everyday, as I would leave for school my husband would say “ don’t let the boys win”… they never did! I loved teaching those eager kids….now some of the other stuff we teachers had to do not so much.
Thanks for sharing, Linda! I chuckled reading about you “herding” those little kindergarteners to the buses. I always had first day jitters too. As a high school teacher, I thought I’d never remember 150 names. By the end of the year, I couldn’t forget them. Ha ha!
It was kind of like when you think all your ducks are in a row suddenly one becomes a squirrel…..it was such a relief after 3 days when they learned which bus was the way home. By biggest joy was seeing the progress from September to June, many didn’t even know how to write their name or have a clue about letters or numbers.
Now, I’m really giggling!!! 😂 Thanks for starting my day off right.
Since I'll get June and July off (we go back August 5 now) we are hanging on. Completed my last lecture yesterday! No amount of Doritos and Pepsi can propel me through April and May. For me, it's spring break that starts summer fever. The weather starts getting nice and it's so hard to focus!
I'll put planning aside for a week or two, but College Board has restructured AP Psychology, so I have to revamp ALL of my instructional material, and that's just one of these classes I teach!
But I cannot say I don't enjoy it, at all. Most days are fun. Some days are rotten, but the good outweigh the bad. I may need that reminder next April.
I agree that there were so many more good days (and years) than bad, but I do remember how tired I always was -- how I couldn't wait to go to bed each night & how I didn't want to get up each morning. Thank heavens! That bone-weary feeling is gone with retirement. I used to keep an open can of Pepsi in the refrigerator in the Teacher Lounge and run in between classes just to keep me going. Ha! When I interviewed at Marion Tech, they asked if I'd be comfortable using their materials. I almost did handstands. I wanted to shout, "Are you kidding? Do you know how much instructional material I've had to prepare in my life?" I'm so proud of you, Dr. Ritter!!!! Remember that next April. Hugs & High 5's
I worked in schools for five or ten years as a school counselor , school librarian, substitute teacher , and classroom guest speaker. Some teachers I knew were like surrogate parents to their students. Even though I loved the kids, I found the job demanding, and stressful in so many ways - and that was 20-30 years ago. It seems as if the demand and stress is even more so now with increased school violence, bullying, social media influence, and volumes of paperwork included in the task of trying to teach children. So, my hat is off to all teachers each and every day!
I'm with you, Janice. My two daughters tell me it is much more challenging today. I can't imagine where things are going... Will be interesting to watch. I just try to support them when I can.
My daughter was a substitute teacher for over ten years in the San Francisco Bay Area and has given it up - the responsibility, the potential for violence , and the demands were more than she cared to continue with.
I can't imagine being a sub now! I had a new young teacher tell me lately that her bio students throw things at her & call her names. She wasn't that upset about it. OMG can that be coming the norm? Yikes!
All the teachers I know are more than done this time of year. It takes so much energy to corral a classroom of students and actually teach them what they need to know. When I volunteered in my kids' classrooms, one day was exhausting for me! Bless all the teachers - they are heroes in my book!
I saw a lot of teachers tonight at our Rally in the Alley -- smiles on their faces & beers in their hands. Ha! Summer has officially begun...
As I traverse my last day of the school year your words strike so much truth. I love being in my classroom, but it is truly one of the most thankless jobs ever. I have been bashed by people who have never met me on social media, talked down to by parents, under-paid by administration, yet I still show up everyday. Why? Because my students matter to me. My principal recently said in a staff meeting - "the days are long and the year is short", that is how I feel walking into my classroom for the last time this school year. Blessings to all the teachers who still show up and for the support of those who have walked in our shoes. - Thank you for a wonderful and timely writing.
Oh, Robin ~ I hope you have a great last day!!! Thank you for hanging in there. Have a great summer. {{Hugs}} & High 5’s
Love this! I am laughing as I read this, I can relate. I was a para educator for 18 years, in two different school systems. After the pandemic, I did go back, but only for one year. The kids were horrific. And I thought I was too old for that. I loved my job working as a para educator. I liked it better at the first school. But I think a lot depended on that my supervisors. My supervisors, special ed teachers, were more hands on and more dedicated At the first school. At the second store Then special ed teacher bullied myself, and a couple other para educators. And I was the oldest person working for her, and I left because I didn’t deserve to be treated like she was treating me. The other two para educators that she bullied also, left too.
Another great story Jan. And I needed a good laugh this morning, thanks for providing that. Hugs my friend. Have a great day, Full of blessings!
It's true, Jan. Being a teacher is a beautiful job but a bit exhausting. Working with children post-pandemic is challenging. Here we have had a week's vacation and we are just finishing the first term of school, so as you can see we are just getting started.