Teachers - Is it impossible to do everything required to be a good teacher without passing out from exhaustion

Question

Teachers - Is it impossible to do everything required to be a good teacher without passing out from exhaustion

Answer 1

The answer to the posted query is:  yes.  

Answer 2

There are 4 million teachers in the US. *Millions* do this every day.

A new teacher always thinks its impossible - thats why we have a 50 percent turnover rate within the first five years.

try and remember that your classroom and the kids in it have the entire year to progress. Once you have been on the job for a while - you will start to pick up some things that veterans do as a routine. Once you have a number of *teacher tools* under your belt, it will be easier on you.

Ive heard it is like trying to catch popcorn popping. you never know whats going to happen - but a veteran has seen it all before and knows how to deal with any situation that comes up.

Answer 3

pace yrweek - try not to get everythgin done on a monday- it will be the longest day of the week

family time is soooo important./ me time

so is sleep

being a mom of a 3 year old/ having been head of dept and full time teacher in my kid's first year of life was not smart- i make mistakes and won't make them again

take systems off other colleagues that work - observe as much as u can so that u can steal as much as u can.

and get some parents on yr side early so that yr rep among parents is sound. its amazing that some parents will speak up for u in the parking lot when u wont be there!

teachign 9 years and still workign on the stealing of systems!

  

Answer 4

LOL....Hmmm, don't know if it's possible or not...Seriously, I believe teaching is one of the most under-appreciated, yet absolutely toughest, career fields in the world, aside from maybe undercover federal agents and our blessed military. We have to be part time 'parents,' educators, guidance counselors (in a manner of speaking), friend (not buddy, there's a difference) yet disciplinarian all in one. Then there are the standards to meet in each state, state and national testing, IEP's, 504's, students with special needs, students with personal problems, colleagues with personal problems (!!), have I left anything out? Somewhere in there we are supposed to figure out how to creatively and positively present concepts to students in a manner that they will hopefully retain at least a fraction of what you've taught them, with little appreciation from most students (though if you get the parents on your side, they can be your biggest ally, I agree with whoever said that above).  I'm surprised, after reading this myself, that I still want to be an educator! ha ha.  It is possible to be a GREAT teacher without passing out from exhaustion. Pace yourself, set your priorities (teaching students the appropriate state-mandated material), and get your classroom management in order FIRST, then everything will come. You may not be perfect at it (none of us are) but organization is key, if you are organized from the get-go, you will find that the 'fluff' stuff gets easier to handle. Document as you go in your grade book and your lesson plan book so you don't have to go back and 'remember' what standard that lesson met, etc...things like that. Enlist students' help too, if they have free time in class, get them to help you do small chores around the classroom, my students usually enjoyed the break from sitting at their desk, and they could talk quietly to their friend(s) helping too, or to me (yes, some of them actually enjoyed that!)  :)

I hope you find some solace on here, remember we are all a team and here for each other!!

Answer 5

I would say that what needs to be done can be done, but, in my experience, anyone who has anything left at the end of the day has shortchanged the kids sometime during the day.

Answer 6

I never have time to do everything I think I should do ... but I prioritize and do the important things.  

Answer 7

As you progress, you will learn how to conserve your energy.

I've had to learn not to talk so much, because that takes energy too.

I've learned to get to bed EARLY every night.

Eat healthy foods and avoid alcohol.

Have something you love to do after work that has nothing to do with your job, like a hobby or friends group.

Exercise often like taking walks, biking, etc.

Find other teachers to connect with so you will have peer advice when needed.

Good luck this year!

Answer 8

When I owned a store and now that I teach, I've found it's impossible to do everything you'd like to the standard you like to do it.  Being a perfectionist doesn't help, either.

Answer 9

pick your battles by priority

-delegate whenever you can

-make a point of actually sitting down for a few minutes every hour

-try to not take the job home with you

even great teachers are not perfect!

Answer 10

Just do the best you can.  By the second year it will be SO much easier.  By your third, it will be easier still.  Just keep giving it your all.  And save everything you do.  (The future years are easier because you've already created a lot of the time consuming things.)