And that is not an exaggeration. We have one more week left and many teachers are already letting the kids play cards and watch movies and I don't feel right about it but have no energy to make any more lesson plans. I am the only sped high school teacher and came into a room with very few resources, though it is a nice room with lots of light. If it weren't for google, I honestly don't know how I could have survived this and I always felt guilty b/c there was no flow to my lesson planning--there were too many worksheets. I think I could have handled it if I hadn't found out I have breast cancer in early November and it's been crazy ever since. I opted for holistic treatment so that's been a help physically and emotionally and it seems to be working, but try to concentrate on learning the ins and outs of IEPs and meetings and re-evals, etc, while you're also worrying about whether you're going to die! On top of that, new school, new town, and all my docs are 2-1/2 hours away. I got pretty far behind on my paperwork but almost caught up now--for awhile there the print was dancing on the page--I could not focus. On the up-side: I have fabulous students who truly care about me and are not a discipline problem, and I'm in a good mood most of the time. I have supportive admin and a best friend here in town. And a dog, lol. Anybody else have this much stress in their first yr of teaching? I'm fried. And looking forward to a summer of rest and building curriculum.
That has certainly been a challenging year, hugs and prayers for you. I've hard my most challenging class and we have 3 weeks left. I'm still teaching, but by the last week, we will definitely be reviewing with lots of games!
I'm so sorry you have had to live with such stress.I can perfectly understand how things slide a little bit. Since it is the last week, could you have your students help you clean and organize the room? I know my students absolutely love helping out. I hope your health continues to improve!
Thanks Tasha and swansong: I just needed to vent and glad somebody hears. Swansong, I love the idea of them helping to clean and organize--I could sure use the help though sometimes directing them is more work than doing it myself b/c they devolve into nerfball/sandbag/pokerchip throwing very quickly! My daughters are visiting though and welcome by admin to come to my classroom so maybe I'll put them in charge of that and the boys will like having pretty girls to boss them around.
The first year of teaching is a challenge, add in a new town, then your health problems, hang in there. The end of the year is always a challenge. I agree, let them help clean & organize the room. If you have puzzles, have them do the puzzles to make sure all of the pieces are there. Do the same with games. That way they can have a specific task & hopefully won't play nerf ball.
Oh my gosh...I cannot imagine how you got through this year!!! Lots of hugs to you. I hope you get a lot of time to rest this summer, and that your health improves by leaps and bounds! On the last day of school last year, I had no idea I was going to have classes (the other specialists had said we don't get kids on the last day of school) so I was just cleaning when a group of 4th graders showed up at my door. Everything was all over the place so I offered a movie/cleaning time and I was surprised at how eager they were to help me!! It was nice they dusted for me, took stuff off the walls, threw things away, organized instruments. Yeah, in some ways it is less efficient when students are helping you because they can be a little clueless or maybe get off task but I think it's really good for them.
Guess what? I have a lot to finish at school right now but did I go up there? No I did not--just stayed home and did a few things around the house without pushing myself at all. It felt great! Now tomorrow. . . One thing I do feel and that is when I get some experience, I'm going to be a good teacher. I'm a good tutor already so I have it in me. Just got to get past this first.
Hang in there... I am glad that you are doing quite well health-wise. I get your stress because I am an aide with a teacher who has been doing sped for 10 years and yet still cries occasionally because of all the paperwork, workshops, IEPs to be written. You are in a noble profession and I am sure parents will be very thankful that their kids had you as the teacher. Hope you have a great summer! thesub
I am so sorry about the cancer. I hope that the treatment continues to work! And being a first teacher in itself is stressful, add to that the health issues and that compounds everything. You are already ahead of the game knowing that with more experience you are going to be a great teacher. That's what it takes!
Being a first year teacher is very very stressful and difficult and seemingly all-consuming. Especially when you start compounding it with health issues. Best best wishes for decompressing and getting healthy.
