Comments on They Call Me Teacher: A Year Done

You were never really alone. Anyone who comes in ...

2009-08-31T00:59:32.062-04:00

You were never really alone. Anyone who comes in with notions of doing great things comes to realize, as you did, that there's only one thing you're doing for most of that first year: surviving.

Are you teaching again this year? I'm curious to know whether you decided to keep going--I couldn't tell for sure from this post.

You mentioned how you stopped blogging because you "wanted to not think about school when I was outside of school," and that is a good idea. But I also think you could turn your writing into a source of inspiration and motivation, instead of a release as it more or less was this first year. I wrote a blog for my friends and family that detailed the day to day struggles, the misery, anger and occasional triumph. But it was really hard to write that way after a while, and I hated focusing so much on the negative. When I started I Want to Teach Forever, I decided to make something entirely positive, as much for me as for the other teachers I would ostensibly be helping. If you are continuing to teach, maybe a new direction could make this more of a source of positive thoughts for you.

I'm glad you survived. Before you know it, yo...

2009-08-11T05:46:37.393-04:00

I'm glad you survived. Before you know it, you'll be done surviving, and ready to do exactly what you set out to do at the beginning.

I hope you are enjoying the final throes of summer and that you got the much needed stress relief you deserve!

most of this could have been written by me five ye...

2009-08-02T16:22:59.800-04:00

most of this could have been written by me five years ago. my first year was also hell. it was awful and torturous.

everyone told me the second year would be better. i really worried though, because what if i was the exception?

but with all that i had learned (good and bad) in my first year, the second year was like night and day--a thousand times better. i felt like i had my shit together more and was able to prevent a lot of the issues i'd had the previous year. i was so much stricter right from the get-go and i also bonded with my kids better, i think.

i am thinking good thoughts for you to continue resting and relaxing and rejuvenating this summer, and a better start to the new school year. you can do it! :)

I'm so glad you updated us that you made it th...

2009-07-31T23:45:01.512-04:00

I'm so glad you updated us that you made it through the schoolyear! Good for you!! My first year teaching was so incredibly difficult, and it wasn't even in New York City. Second year was easier in the sense that, like you said, you know what to expect, for the most part. So are you teaching in the same school for this coming schoolyear? I am rooting for you! :)

Nice to see you back! One of the great things abo...

2009-07-20T18:14:33.479-04:00

Nice to see you back! One of the great things about teaching is no matter what your hopes and dreams, or how bad things get, you will have some reflection time during the summer. You have a wonderful opportunity to gather yourself up and greet a new set of students in a new school setting(just the changes in staff will keep things fresh for a while). I've enjoyed watching you grow. I wondered where you were.

You're definately braver than me. When I'm...

2009-07-13T18:43:16.772-04:00

You're definately braver than me. When I'm not happy with a school I look for other options and jump ship if the opportunity arises. My first year of teaching was SO hard and the kids I was working with wouldn't let me speak. It was a demoralising year. I changed school, and from the first day, my students sat looking at me waiting to hear what I was going to say. It was worth the move to me.
Maybe I am just a big wimp and won't get the full character development I would if I stuck it out with situations that aren't working for me, but I think my moves have been important for my mental health and my growth as a teacher.
Be sure to take care of yourself and I'm thinking of you as you prepare for next year.
Penny.