Second year teacher — I am looking for advice! For context, I teach English (primarily underclassmen) at a rural school.

I go home absolutely exhausted by behaviors and just the general feeling that I suck at my job. I have a very difficult time remembering all the “little” things that go with managing a classroom of thirty, balancing the grading workload, and remembering to have personal conversations with students (I get so focused on the content of the lesson and whether or not kids are engaged that I literally FORGET to ask the kids about their personal lives).

I moved a new grade level at the beginning of the year. I also manage several sections of co-taught classes along with another severely behavioral class (kids can’t stay in their seats, will not do work unless you explicitly give them the answers, and talk over me constantly).

I am currently doing all-class texts with both of my grade levels. Engagement is SUPER low. We read the books aloud in class as students will not read them at home; most students at my school will not complete homework unless you give time in class for them to complete it. We’re doing plays, so I do have the kids act out the play — they are not enjoying this particular activity, and as a result, we’re slogging through the text. I chunk content and rephrase the text for students multiple times throughout the lesson so they may better understand the novel. When I ask a question, hardly anyone answers.

I feel absolutely overwhelmed. The grading, the behaviors, lesson planning… I am working 12 hour days every single day, and my best effort still isn’t good enough. I feel like I am failing my students and my school. I did NOT have these problems when I student taught. I had a few issues during my first year, but I feel absolutely decimated this year. I feel as if I’m failing to instill a love (or at least a tolerance) of reading and writing. It is incredibly disheartening.

Other teachers have told me that I have some tough classes this year (they’re familiar with the students). Tough is fine. I just feel like I have no idea where to go from here.

So what advice do you have? Specifically for read-alouds (engagement ideas) and behaviors. How do you keep track of the 48492992 things that happen during a class period/school day?

I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water. I can’t even focus on my personal life — chores, cooking, errands, friendships — because I’m so constantly focused on school.

I recently learned that the school that one of my family members works at is planning on removing breaks next year for all teachers. The best “break” they’ll get is when someone comes around to each classroom in a hall in the span of 30 minutes. (So 30 minutes for four teachers to split between them) They’re also expected to have students eat in their classroom.

This charter is in Texas, and I can’t think of any way to help. She doesn’t want to risk losing her job, since there’s no contract keeping that from happening. Is there any way I can help her?

Wish I could attach a photo but man first I step on 2 mini pancakes that were on the floor of my classroom during first block. THEN a student grabs a laptop only to find TWO MINI PANCAKES taped to the inside. I was so livid. My investigation skills are top notch though and I questioned the suspects during my planning period. First child confessed and said “I forgot to clean it up, I’m sorry I forgot I even did it”. What do we do with this level of incompetence??

P.s: I’m a high school art teacher and know this child to be mischievous at times but pANCAKES?!

To clear the air, I'm a TA, not a "teacher teacher".

I started at a new district this year, as a reading interventionist. It was new, scary and difficult, but I really felt like I was coming into my own.

Because the teacher of one of the classes I push into didn't like me, claimed I wasn't effective at doing my job (which is weird because they insisted on pulling my students for the intervention that I was supposed to be administering), and that the things I was teaching were "completely wrong" (but wouldn't show me how I was wrong); I was told that I would instead start pushing into a new kindergarten class.

This completely broke me, and I've cried every day since getting the news. Today was my first day in the room and I thought I was doing okay, until I passed one of my former classes in the hallway on their way to a special and just lost it. I would still be in tears if I actually could cry.

Now, the new teacher is upset with me, and said they'll be emailing the principal to find me a new placement.

I really just want to ghost at this point. I worked so hard to get into a position that I LOVED, working with kids and staff that I adored, just to have it taken away because of one person's opinion of me. My anxiety and depression have been so bad ever since, I can hardly function. I'm just done.

Hi everyone

Anyone a teacher and EMT in NJ? Apparently the Department of Health has a program for Masters-prepared teachers with 3 years of experience to teach EMT. Seems like a good side-gig for those who like emergency medical care.

Anyone taking advantage of this?

Hello everyone!

I am currently an intern in middle school. I have currently been dealing with teachers, who are not my mentor teacher who is in the room with me all day every day, walking into the classroom and giving unwarranted advice to me. Specifically, a teacher has made a point in telling me that forming connections with the young boys, and sometimes the girls, in my class is wrong. For example, we have a group of 4 behaviorally challenged students who always request to work at ‘my table’ (it’s more like my desk but I don’t have one) during assignments. They always complete their work when they are working next to me. I understand that students need to learn how to be responsible for their work and cannot always rely on this seating to be successful, however I have been told to do “whatever I can do” to see that these boys make it to high school. One day, an older teacher walked into the room, asked to speak to me outside, then proceeded to lecture me on how this is inappropriate and how bad it looks to everyone else. This is just one example of how this is occurring, but it even happens to me when I have a group of 3-4 girls who want to eat lunch in the classroom with me. I know this sounds weird, but hear me out first. I am probably the most reflective and cautious student teacher ever. I am receptive and appreciative of any advice I can get. Maybe it’s the young teacher in me, but I am so very afraid of doing something wrong and getting fired or getting media attention. I also know that teaching is not a popularity game. I am grateful to have naturally formed bonds with some students in my classes, however I know that they are not my friends and the professionalism boundary is always in place. I am never talking to the boys about anything but schoolwork and sometimes trying to give them advice to stop making poor life choices. The girls who come to eat lunch with me will play Christmas music and we will chat about school, vacations, movies, never gossipy stuff because I know better. Is it wrong that I am offended by this? My partnership teacher low-key thinks that teaching IS a popularity game and sometimes I think that he is only there for the validation of the students. Therefore, I do not know how to find the middle ground on how I am feeling. One teacher is telling me not to worry about it at all, but another is perceiving me as being inappropriate with students. What do you guys think?

I will start my first job in an elementary charter school (as a learning assistant) next semester, and I want to take advantage of the upcoming holiday sales. The thing is that I'm not sure how to dress. All sites I've searched tell me to dress either formal or like a college student, and I don't know what to believe. Can I get some help, please ? If you can post screenshoots of ideas, it would be MEGA helpful. I don't know the grade yet as I applied thru a grant from my college, and my training won't begin until January.

So I posted a week or so ago about two racist students that we suspended and had kicked off the basketball team.

Well, there is an update. One of the students, the one whose parents were said that he was kicked off the basketball team more than the fact that he used racial slurs, has transferred to a neighboring school district.

His father withdrew him today apparently and stated that he wants his son to play basketball because he thinks he'll earn a college scholarship doing so.

So, we have one less racist in school district and now. However, what the father and son don't know is that the basketball coach at our high school is going to message the coach the new school and let him know what happened and try to keep him from getting on their basketball team.

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed as a teacher? When I first became a teacher, I thought I would be teaching students and encouraging them to be creative. Instead, I feel totally overwhelmed about the sheer number of meetings. Every lesson and test has to be tailored for IEPs and you know you have to do it because admin can (and will) walk in your room at any point. I have OCD and my mind is usually overwhelmed as it is but am I alone in struggling with all of this?

I’m not sure if this is the best sub for this question but thought I’d put it out there:

Oregon teacher moving to Washington district. My long term boyfriend (we have a child together) was on my Oregon insurance as a domestic partner. Does WA state (SEBB, I believe) allow that as well?

Thanks!

I am not anti-cell phone or anti-AI, and I do believe that technology has a place in the classroom, however, I am just looking for some tips that seasoned teachers have for a classroom technology policy. Thanks in advance!

Please give me any tips that you use in your classroom or wished you knew as a student teacher or first year teacher about grading. Thanks in advance!

First year teacher here.

My 4th period is my worst class and has been since day 1. Today multiple students were throwing poppers in my classroom. I had them take notes while I lecture for about 10-15 minutes then I had them do independent inquiry work on the Chromebooks. During that time the entire class was off task just talking and not doing the work. I kept hearing popping noises in every direction. I couldn’t pin point who it was exactly so I had to call security and admin to have the entire class searched. They did catch the student who brought them. But I really wish admin would discipline those who were given some and throwing them as well. When I would call out students who I was sure had them they would get extremely mad. Like if it wasn’t you then you wouldn’t be that offended and “crash out”.

Anyways this period really makes me hate my job. I try so hard for all my other periods because they want to learn and are engaged. But 4th period really makes me want to quit.

I’m going to meet with admin about that particular class. I have 12 IEP students and A LOT of different personalities in 4th period. If they can’t switch some kids out then I don’t think I can continue for the rest of the year. I’ll be applying to other jobs after school today.

I’m honestly so disappointed because I love my job!! But it’s hard to wake up and show up every day when you’re not appreciated.

I really hadn’t been feeling well at all this school year, and I could tell that something was wrong, but my doctors kept saying I was fine.

About a month ago it got extremely bad the doctors realized that I’m having some sort of autoimmune attack that was damaging my heart.

I was immediately hospitalized and placed on leave from work…won’t be back until after the holidays.

My department and admin said to tell them anything I needed help with so they could take care of it. I’m an RSP teacher and have two late IEPs because parents were no shows. I told them weeks ago that I needed help getting those done (I’m obviously not going to try to track down parents for meetings while on leave). Now we are back from thanksgiving break and admin is emailing me about why those meetings haven’t been held yet.

Like idk what they expect me to do about it? I already tried to hold them 🤦‍♀️ They know I’m on leave and I already told them I needed help getting those meetings done.

Labeling as humor because I guess all I can do is laugh.

I’ve always had the career goal in teaching to teach A-Level, I’ve revelled in the high ability type teaching in my subject, and have just started a new job where I have the opportunity teach A-Level. The thing is, I didn’t think it would be the way that it is, and I don’t remember it being like this when I myself took my A-Levels. I don’t have enough time to get through the content in lessons and focus on the high level problems. I’m also being made to teach modules I’m not so secure in as the idea is that once I do that I can have my own group next year. I’ve not had much support and only feedback that my pace isn’t where it needs to be and I need to catch up. I find the students are also incredibly apathetic and aren’t putting in the effort from their end. The units I’m teaching are completely new to them and aren’t really building upon GCSE knowledge, and so because of that and the pace I have to go at in each lesson, they’re blaming me for them not doing well. I totally accept I’m not perfect, it’s my first time teaching this kind of way, but man it’s hard when I feel I’m bending over backwards for them, creating summary sheets and worked examples for them, posting my own written notes for them to access, and marking their homework and giving feedback every week and they’re just not doing anything with that. It’s just a bit of a crushing feeling that it isn’t what I wanted it to be. I expected it to be really fun and engaging as the students are at that age where you can be more relaxed with them, but they’re still petty teenagers with an enormous sense of entitlement now they’re in sixth form that I’m having to uphold the same standards as kids in the lower years because they think they can take liberties. Does anyone have any tips when it comes to teaching A-level for the first time?

Second year teacher. Four preps. Today is the first day back from Thanksgiving break, and I called out sick because I am completely burnt out and have been for weeks. We’re supposed to be giving students practice midterms in class this week, and have I made them? No. I can’t even bring myself to start. I can barely think or function. I’ve just been sleeping and crying. I’m considering calling out tomorrow as well.

Thank you for listening to my rant. Does anyone have tips for surviving this week? The rest of the school year?

Every news article I read about violent or disruptive students in the classroom always call for more support staff and more training for existing staff. How much would that actually help? Instead of other children being hit or bit, it will be an adult, which is better but still not good. What kind of training will allow a 130 lb woman to calm down a violent 200 lb, 6 ft child? Will it always be a workable solution or are there some cases where a child simply cannot safely be in a school and there has to be other fixes considered? Is a child’s right to an education always going to override a right to a safe workplace? Is there always something educational assistants can do to deescalate?

I’ve been teaching for the past five years at my small charter school in Chicago, and this is the first year where I’ve almost never been observed. Maybe once. It’s honestly been demoralizing. I like receiving positive feedback for my job. I don’t get criticized, but I also never get any precise praise for the work I do every single day. Maybe I’m different, I know a lot of teachers like to be left alone, but at a school that’s as dysfunctional and disorganized as mine not having admin come in and see the good stuff I do makes me feel like what I do isn’t important or isn’t appreciated. Want to hear your thoughts.

I am a first year teacher and I’m a young woman. I teach 9th grade. I’ve had to deal with so much sexual harassment and sexual comments from students this year and it’s wearing on my soul. I’ve had to write boys up so many times and yes they get dealt with, my admin is supportive, but emotionally it’s so hard. It’s degrading and makes me feel horrible. I have a history with assault and I think that makes it feel worse for me. I am in therapy though!

I know that with experience I’ll get thicker skin and everything. Are there ways to make it stop? Any advice or encouragement? I appreciate this community a lot!

So I'm not sure where to go for this but the FLVS sub and Homeschool sub definitely aren't it. I'm currently back to utilizing FLVS Flex for my 10 year old. He is on a module that has live lessons, supplemental videos and modules to work through. We are currently doing long division with remainders turned to fractions. I have a white board, I have been attempting to teach him the steps following the standard algorithm but he is still struggling. He is ADHD and his elementary school was not following his IEP for the second year in a row and he was falling behind, so I switched him back to FLVS FLEX, which we have been successful in the past with. So for an example, he is working on problems like 576÷5. I have tried going over the modules with him multiple times, showing him on the whiteboard multiple times but can't seem to get him to grasp the steps, even though I have written them out and have the printout of the steps by the teacher. Is there another way I can attempt teaching him? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. While I am not an educator, I do have an AS. Degree in Science and am currently working on My Bachelor's. I would not have taken this on if it was not something I could not handle and this is the first major problem I have come across so far. He has all S', A's and B's. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am currently in Orange County, Florida.

This is why we tell you to check your work BEFORE you turn it in.

I'm coming back home after I finish my program here in NY for Literacy, TESOL, and Childhood Education. However, I'm wondering if ESL/TESOL/ESOL teachers are still in need in Texas? Or have things moved more towards bilingual education? I'm originally from Houston and would more than likely be coming back to H-Town. :)

Thank you all!

Our contracted time to be at school is 7:45, but if we’re not at school at 7:30 our principal freaks out. She told us that she was going to take our leave time if we were’t here “on time.” Meaning her time. They also keep us after our contracted leave time which is 3:45, but we don’t usually leave until 4:30. I’m getting really fed up and irritated with admin at my job, and it is the main reason I want to leave. They don’t support the musical arts in any way and treat us like shit.

Would you rather have a position you wanted in a “bad” school or a position you don’t want in a “good” school?

I am a substitute teacher. I was recently covering for my first long term position under a teacher, in a school i started working at before becoming a sub.

As of today I have been excused. Not only that, it was two days before we returned from break. I was excused upon the grounds of students complaining about my classroom Managment skills and being too "emotional". These students came to admin and other teachers to express their concerns- when I looked like “I was about to cry” especially when I was interrupted frequently, and made it clear to not test that boundary. I would never yell or cry in front of students. I was let go upon the reason of this work load being "too much". This was incredibly blindsiding. I need some advice. My emotions are always on my sleeve by nature and I wish to see how that doesn't translate. How can I make this better in the future? What else can I do to keep this from happening again? I can't help that my passion is mistaken for upset and it's very disheartening.

This school had a special place in my heart and I thought I was doing great. And it makes me sad knowing that some kids didn’t know how to react. social emotional learning is very important to me. I’m currently going to school to be a high school English teacher- and I was applying everything I learned. Why was I let go? This was my first long term position and I really thought I was doing great all things considered. I never sent anyone to the office bc any disputes were resolved with me one on one. I just don’t know what to thinks

Estou passando por um momento complicado, sou professora a 8 anos, meu primeiro emprego foi em uma escola, nunca trabalhei em nenhum outro ambiente. Só que chegou num ponto que está me fazendo mal toda a rotina escolar, os alunos, os colegas de trabalho e o pais. Não estou suportando mais ir a escola, conversar com as pessoas e as crianças, conviver ali naquele ambiente. Sinto que não vivi minha vida o suficiente, não sei explicar direito, mas sinto que me faltou experiência, vivências em outros lugares com outras pessoas e outros assuntos. Não que eu queira trabalhar como caixa de supermercado, mas parece que não ter feito outra coisa na vida me deixou assim, esgotada de tudo. A impressão que eu tenho é que eu vivo pra escola, com os mesmos assuntos e mesmas pessoas. Estou realmente triste, cansada e com muita vontate de sumir ambiente escolar. Nessas férias de dezembro estou pensando em trabalhar em outra área porque estou precisando muito de dinheiro, você acha errado professora Se submeter a outra profissão um pouco "inferior"? Minha mãe acha que estou sendo burra de ter meu emprego e ir procurar um bico nas férias. O que você faria no meu lugar? Acha feio professora ser uma auxiliar de armazém? Estou angustiada. Minha mãe me julga muito por procurar emprego nas férias e diz que não tem necessidade, porém fiz muitas dívidas esse ano e pretendo começar o ano que vem mais leve. E outra, se minha mãe achou ruim e não aprovou a ideia, meu pai vai surtar com isso, porque pra ele não existe a gente se formar em uma coisa e fazer outra. De certa forma me sinto presa e com medo de magoar meus pais.

Hey Reddit,

I need some perspective on a situation at work. I’m a teacher-librarian, and recently someone came to my prep area with a Chromebook cart, saying, “I have a delivery for you.” It was framed as if the cart was meant to be in my space, but no one had asked me beforehand, and it honestly felt more like they were just looking for somewhere to dump it.

This cart is for students who have accommodations, but it’s not something I manage. It’s really just a way for them to get it out of someone else’s way. My prep area is already cramped, and taking this cart in would mean I’d have to find somewhere else for it or deal with it in some way, even though it’s not my responsibility.

The person who wanted to drop it off emailed me about two weeks ago, asking if I could take it. I didn’t respond because I didn’t really want it, and there are already four Chromebook carts in that small space (though those are mine). The person delivering it wasn’t the decision-maker—they were just a student assistant following instructions. I politely told them “one moment,” went to the office to confirm, and stayed away for a while until they left. When I returned, the cart was gone, and nothing else has been said about it.

To be honest, while I understand the other teacher doesn’t have space for the cart in her classroom, I don’t see how that’s my problem. I didn’t want to deal with extra responsibility, especially when it’s not something I manage. I also want to mention that I have autism, and I sometimes feel like certain power plays or manipulative phrasing are used with me. For example, when they said, “I have a delivery for you,” it made it sound like I didn’t have a choice, instead of asking, “Is it okay if I store this here?” I’ve noticed this type of language used in other situations too, and I feel like I’m only now picking up on it and addressing it.

Was I right to push back, or should I have just accepted it temporarily? I don’t want to seem difficult, but I also don’t want to be stuck with more stuff I’m not responsible for.

I can't tell if I'm being an asshole, or if I'm just avoiding being treated like a doormat. It's very hard to tell. What do you think?

Teaching has been super tough for me. I am a good teacher, my kids like me for the most parts and my supervisors always tell me positives but the lifestyle and behavior problems really get to me. I will not be coming back next year but I do want to finish the year and finish it well.

I only work contracted hours and rehearsals 3x a week until 6 pm. I lesson plan in advance and all and I’m pretty on top of things but it’s more about the emotional/psychological toll the job is taking on me. I often go home crying and overstimulated. I have so many things I’d like to do after school but often don’t have the energy or motivation. I am taking courses to advance my future career but often don’t have enough time for them. I feel like teaching has made me a sour person. Of course I am not mean to my students but I am often frustrated and snarky especially when challenged. It makes me sad because that’s not who I am. I just feel so negative in my life. I want to be happy and do things that make me happy but have no energy. It feels like I am a teacher first and person second.

Any advice to get things done or change my mindset would be very appreciated.

I work in a super small public school and get paid very well for it but this is after working overseas for a number of years. Loves working overseas with motivated kids but moved back to the states after COVID round 2... Been back in the states for 3 years but I am just losing all motivation to teach American kids. We are on decline and they depress me more everyday. If they aren't farting on each other then they are talking about cars... The Pixar movie.... These are seniors and juniors....

I just miss teaching overseas souch but after a dog, a baby, and a house it would just be too much to go back overseas.

Just in a funk I guess.

Currently a 4th year high school math teacher (27F) interested in becoming a college professor at a junior/city college (maybe a private university) 10-15 years from now. Salary is 72k at this time, and I’m currently renting (20% of income), with plans of getting married and having kids, purchasing a home in the next 5 years.

Looking for advice for if it is worth it and what degree I should pursue. I know it would basically only give me a leg up in salary with the doctorate stipend at this time, but what other perks are there? What’s a good tuition rate for my current situation? Do I need it to pursue teaching in high education?

Thanks in advance!