First year teacher report: 3 months down

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

Whew!

What a crazy job. I’m a grade six band teacher working at four different schools. I’ve gone from mild mannered muscian to a Mr. Holland in training. I’ve done four beginning band concerts with four more on the horizon. Lots of marking, some run ins with parents, getting reviewed by my administration and trying to balance a personal life are parts of the many challenges in this profession. I go to sleep dreaming of what is happening in school…it consumes me. I’m glad I’m a runner otherwise I’d be so stressed out of my mind.

I’m simply proud I’ve made it this far. The hardest part is living in a town far from my family and friends and it can get lonesome. Hopefully next year I’ll land a job closer to home.

Anyone want to share first year experiences of teaching? Any tips?

2

I was a teacher for 16 years, got teacher burn out, and quit.
Now, 10 years later, I have just started teaching - college level - again.

Here is how it works:
The first year is hard, because you have to do everything for the first time. Not only that, but you will, at some point, be sick a lot - due to every kid in the classroom bringing in every flu bug, cold bug and qodknowswhatelse.

Then each year gets a bit easier - you start to re-cycle some tests and lesson plans, you start to be better at teaching certain points - and your immune system gets strong enough for you to walk naked through a leper colony and come out unscathed.

Then it gets to be old hat.

Then you start to become an old hat.

That is when it is time to quit teaching for awhile, or change subjects, or change schools/age of students, whatever. There is nothing sadder, or worse, than a teacher who has taught the same subject, with the same book, in the same manner, for years and years and years…they start to teach in a monotone, and the enthusiasm just fades away. I loved teaching too much to let that happen to me, or my students.

Yes, there are some exceptions to this bleak viewpoint - but it takes a special person to keep current, and lively, and interesting year after year after year. I like to think my 10 year hiatus has helped me get back to the teacher I used to be - and so far, so good - my class attendance retention is excellent, I have heard from other teachers that the students like my classes, and I am having fun teaching again.

We’ll see how long I can hold out this time - hoping for a good 5 years at least, but this time I will know better when it is time to quit, and not wait so long to read the writing on the wall.