First and Last year teacher :-(

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Forum -> Working Women -> Teachers' Room

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amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 6:06 pm

I just completed my first year teaching. I've also decided it's my last. I'm just not cut out for this job. I love kids and education, but it wasn't enough for me to succeed at this, I just don't have it in me. I'm a shell of my former self, I don't think I can try again and get burned again. What can I do now? I'd like to stay in education, but not teach. Where do I go from here? Did anyone else get chased out after 1 measly year?

amother

Sienna

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 6:16 pm

don't feel too bad- it took me close to a decade to come to the exact same conclusion. Sad

amother

Cobalt

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 6:25 pm

amother wrote:

I did. I had a control freak first year principal. It is a bad combo. She undermined me constantly.

amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 6:40 pm

So what do you amothers do now? I need to find a new job :-(

amother

Cobalt

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 6:57 pm

amother wrote:

I did.

mamita

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:13 pm

How about private? Tutoring?
A different age range?
A hobby that you can turn into extra curricular classes?
Adults?
chavrusah?
Out reach?
Think big.
Think out of the box.

amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:16 pm

mamita wrote:

How about private? Tutoring?
A different age range?
A hobby that you can turn into extra curricular classes?
Adults?
chavrusah?
Out reach?
Think big.
Think out of the box.

I already do private tutoring. Like everyone and their uncle. It is not a viable parnassah. I am not interested in teaching a different age, and don't ever want to set foot in a classroom full of children again. Adult education is a possibility. How do I get a job in that? I have applied for outreach jobs as well, never heard back from any of them.

Volunteer

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:17 pm

Op, I sympathise. I know what burnout feels like. It really bites. You are not alone education has one of the highest rates of attrition compared to other fields that require a similar degree of education and training.
One idea you can try is tutoring. You might make more money per hour, and you might not experience the same problems that dragged you down before. Tutoring can be done in person or even online via video chat nowadays. You can work independently or for a company.
Another idea is to get retrained, if necessary, to become a different type of teacher. For example: adult education, fitness or dance instructor, gan/day care , foreign language for adults, groups at your local shul or jcc....

twinkle

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:24 pm

is your degree regular or special ed? can you do small group teaching I.e. resurce room or provate one on one like seit. or maybe can you go back to school and get not a totally new degree but add on to yours like reading specialist or vision specialist or something that you can do small group or individual and make you more marketable to get a job.

amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:29 pm

I am regular ed. No interest in special ed. No interest in further training. I spent enough time in school and it obviously didn't pan out. I need a job I can do now, with my current credentials.

amother

Pearl

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 7:45 pm

I'm the OP from this thread: http://www.imamother.com/forum.....hamed

Just did my first real year of full-time teaching (I taught an art elective to high school girls for a good 5 years before this, but that's nothing like being a full-time middle school limudei chol teacher).

I was... not invited back. It hurts.

I don't really want to teach middle school as a career, but it still hurts that the choice isn't mine to make.

Hug

teacher5

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 8:00 pm

If you are certified you can look into working for a company that prepares test materials aka test prep, ie. Kaplan, I-ready, etc. Or companies that write curriculum maps, textbooks etc. I sympathize I am teaching 16 years and as much as I used to love my job, now I like my job and at times wonder if there is something else I would be happy doing.

MMCH

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 8:05 pm

oy I could totally relate. (except this wasn't my first year teaching)
I had such an awful experience this year teaching 5th grade, in a new school. Every aspect from top to bottom was dysfunctional.

I am now questioning every aspect of this job. I keep asking myself should I go back to school? Should I teach a new grade? A new school?

I feel totally lost on this.

cholenteater

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 8:45 pm

How about changing age group? Would you be interested in a head start program- if you are in the NY area there are openings advertised in the Link and Torah Times and I'm sure elsewhere as well. Headstart is 2-4 years and Early Headstart is younger.

Would you try a UPK program? That stands for universal preK, which is for 4 year olds. You need a bachelors and many places prefer masters degree in education. There are many opportunities opening up, as more and more schools are joining the program. If you are comfortable working outside the frum school network, the public school system is looking for UPK teachers. Let me know if you want the link to apply.

You may also want to look into adjunct professor positions, where you don't need a PhD. It is also called a junior professor. Call your local college or online college if you prefer. If you are in Brooklyn, you can reach out to the frum colleges such as Sarah Schenirer The Institute of Education, Touro, TTI raizel write and so on. That way you would be using your schooling and working with adults.

Another idea is to find a niche to specialize in and tutor that area- such as a reading specialist- focus on one approach such as Orton Giligan(spelling?) and so on. Become known as the math whiz or kriah magician! Realize how you sell yourself is crucial- instead of: Hi my name is...I tutor these subjects.... Try: My specialty is helping students progress in their areas of struggle and keeping them in a mainstream classroom by working with the teacher etc.... to develop individualized plans and targets/goals.

You can also contact the programs that help children with auditory/ visual processing and work through them.

What made you go into the field of education? What inspired you to continue and finish your schooling?
Answering these questions for yourself may help clarify which area you are interested in, and can help guide you through this time.
Hatzlacha!!!

amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 9:07 pm

cholenteater wrote:

I don't really like little kids, so early education is not for me. But the adult education interests me. Do you know who I can contact at those places? Can I pm you?

cholenteater

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 9:11 pm

amother wrote:

I don't really like little kids, so early education is not for me. But the adult education interests me. Do you know who I can contact at those places? Can I pm you?

Sure I would love to help you out if I can! I actually saw an ad for a position today. I will give you details- going to look for it now.

Another idea for working with adults by giving courses/ tutor to help them obtain their GED (equivalent to high school diploma).

agreer

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 9:21 pm

My first year teaching was awful.
My second year was AMAZING - those girls remain my favorite class ever.

Are you sure you want to give it up? Now that you've got the preparation done AND have make your rookie mistakes, this upcoming year will be so different....

Think about it.

And whatever you do, zie gebentched!

amother

Green

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 10:03 pm

agreer wrote:

Unfortunately I'm not getting a second chance at this school to show I've learned from my mistakes. I don't want to try again at a different school (how would I even get another job having failed so miserably at this one). I'm too tired. I need to cut my losses and use my talents elsewhere...

cholenteater

Mon, Jun 22 2015, 10:21 pm

Pmd you. Hope I was of assistance.

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