OT: But i think i need to find a new career

DebsNY Posted: Apr 05, 2005 08:18 PM

OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Almost all my kids failed the test on the unit that i gave them. I'm so depressed.

My teacher said i did fine, it's just that they don't study. But i can't help but feel that I'm just an awful teacher.

I'm just finishing up my masters - what can I possibly do with a teaching license?

Between this, and the sh!t lesson I gave in front of the prinicipal last week... ugh.

maybe i should practice my 'would you like fries with that?'

i'll just be an over qualified fast food employee

AnniesSS Posted: Apr 05, 2005 08:23 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Awe

When I went to CW Post, I had an art history teacher who blamed herself for the whole class failing one of the tests She gave us a couple more lessons and retested us and we all passed.

Moral of the story: give your kids a guilt trip and they may do better

Sorry - but I hope I at least made you laugh

micmar Posted: Apr 05, 2005 08:26 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

don't feel that way, I'm sure you're excellent!!!

alexlynn7 Posted: Apr 05, 2005 08:26 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

don't be so hard on yourself!!!! sometimes kids just fail tests!! especially if they don't study. you can only do as much as you can do - at a certain point, they also need to take initiative to learn the stuff. it has nothing to do with you.

you are going to be an AMAZING teacher - PLEASE don't take this so personally... your kids just had a bad test.

JPC1125 Posted: Apr 05, 2005 08:28 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

well....i think im a good teacher but im still young and learning....even older teachers are still learning- especially with ways of including multiple intelligences and such

keep on striving and believe in yourself and never be scared to ask questions

ckgmwedding Posted: Apr 05, 2005 11:33 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Posted by DebsNY

Almost all my kids failed the test on the unit that i gave them. I'm so depressed.

My teacher said i did fine, it's just that they don't study. But i can't help but feel that I'm just an awful teacher.

I'm just finishing up my masters - what can I possibly do with a teaching license?

Between this, and the sh!t lesson I gave in front of the prinicipal last week... ugh.

maybe i should practice my 'would you like fries with that?'

i'll just be an over qualified fast food employee

AWWW DEB! You just have new teacher jitters- I work with many fabulous teachers who have the group fail a test or two. The parents are working, no one helps these kids at home, realize that not all the blame lies with YOU! Teaching is a learning process that takes at least a couple of years to get it down pat. You will be fine- don't worry!!!

ssdbk Posted: Apr 06, 2005 02:55 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Hi--The majority of my friends are teachers. I'm not one, but I must do something to attract a certain type of friend, since my friends are mostly teachers!! Anyway, every one of my teacher friends had a really hard time at first and every one of them now finds it to be easier, yet very rewarding. Hang in there!!!

Ronkonkomonga Posted: Apr 06, 2005 06:59 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

I guess the question is do you like what you do? If you do then hang in there it will get better.

DebsNY Posted: Apr 06, 2005 07:13 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Posted by Ronkonkomonga

I guess the question is do you like what you do? If you do then hang in there it will get better.

I do love teaching... I'm just not very good at it apparently

Darcy Posted: Apr 06, 2005 07:20 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Awww. Let me tell you I think you are brave to be a teacher. I have thought about it and I am way too scared to do it. Perhaps this is a learning experiance and not someone tell you that you shouldn't be a teacher. I know, easier said than done to look on the bright side of things like this.

If you truely do feel this is not the right path for you, perhaps you can go into nursary school teaching, become a principle, or go into some sort of research in the field you got a teching degree in.

What degree are you getting?

azoodie Posted: Apr 06, 2005 07:48 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

debs you're just starting out and there are a lot of things that new teachers have to learn along the way...i'm sure it takes time and experience to be one of those 'great' teachers

you have the heart and you care so much for those kids, so don't ever think you're in the wrong field...you just need to give those kids a good kick in the arse!

amyandbill Posted: Apr 06, 2005 08:52 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Deb,
I am a teacher and half of being a good teacher is learning that it's not always your fault. If I give a test that everyone does poorly on I ask them if they think it was a fair test....if there was anything on there I didn't go over. More often then not they tell me it was fair and that they just didn't bother to study. Don't give up on teaching....if you love it that's all that matters, experience will come with time.

hbradio Posted: Apr 06, 2005 09:19 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

I know whenever I failed a test it wasnt my teachers fault for SURE!!!! I was just lazy and didnt study.

adioguardi Posted: Apr 06, 2005 09:30 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Take it easy on yourself - Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back in front of that class. I did substitute teaching for several years as well as run an After School Program and teach Sunday School and I know teaching is hard work! Hang in there, love your students and you'll have results! Good luck.

What age group do you have, by the way? Are they old enough to blast for failing the test?!?!

FutureAJ8505 Posted: Apr 06, 2005 09:57 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

First off-- to you!

I am a NYC teacher and its a common thing for students not to pass a test!!
They NEVER STUDY!! You should also ask yourself this, where are the parents? They are the Primary educator, not you. We are only with our students 6 hrs of the day, sometimes (45 minutes depending if you are departmental) The parents are with them the rest of the time, or at least for most of that time.

You can't make a student study. Odds are, they will get really nervous about failing and really take it serious for the next time.
Please don't beat yourself up over it, I am sure it was a great lesson. We all deserve credit for just going into the profession.

If you still feel really badly about it, give them back the exam and go over the whole thing, have them find their mistakes and make corrections. Then give them a new test.

Sorry for the long response. Hope you feel better

Sweetpea130000 Posted: Apr 06, 2005 10:27 AM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Deb - don't think that way! unfortunately most kids now a days don't study enough and don't care for that matter. It has NOTHING to do with how you did your job!

DebsNY Posted: Apr 06, 2005 03:55 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Thanks everyone I'm feeling a lot better now. I did a review w/ the kids that failed, and I graded their notes packets, which they did well on, so I should have few, if any, that fail.

I also got my final eval, and recieved all 3's (highest you can get) except for in one area where I got a 2.5.

So my teacher thinks I can do it, and she's AWSOME. Like no joke, she's the teacher I want to be.

So I just have to accept the fact that the principal saw me on a crappy day, and learn from what i did (and yes, I've already gone over my 'new and improved' lesson about 85 times in my head )

Thanks again for the hugs and the encouragement

jesslangen Posted: Apr 06, 2005 04:15 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

Posted by DebsNY

Posted by Ronkonkomonga

I guess the question is do you like what you do? If you do then hang in there it will get better.

I do love teaching... I'm just not very good at it apparently

Im sure your an excellent teacher. But ever wonderful teacher has their bad days too. JUst keep your head up and try to see if there was anything you could have done differently, or better.

Remember, practice makes perfect

KimberlyBride Posted: Apr 06, 2005 05:43 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

orchid24 Posted: Apr 06, 2005 06:32 PM

Re: OT: But i think i need to find a new career

awww
i'm sure you are an excellent teacher... the teachers i've loved and whom were great weren't always teaching the classes i got high grades in...

kids remember those teachers who really listened to them and cared about them... not necessarily those whose classes they aced.

you have a very noble profession---hope you don't give up!