If I'm honest with myself, I dread going back to school. This is my third year, and it hasn't gotten easier. How do I get through it?

I had that feeling too. I switched schools. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I knew it was the right fit when I could sit with the principal for 3 hours and have a good chat. If it isn’t working, it’s time for a change.

Work-life boundaries. Your job as a teacher will ALWAYS have more to do. You can always grade more, plan more, get better lessons. At the end of the day you have to choose a time to stop working. I recommend it being the moment the bell rings. 2:30 is when my school ends and I’ve never worked a minute past 2:30. Go 100mph between 7-2:30 but the moment the bell rings leave school, change your clothes, and live your own life. Find space for yourself and you will end up being a healthier individual, have more mental and physical energy for your students, avoid burnout, stress.

Of course other things can be at play and yes, maybe you need a new school with different admin or expectations. But overall I think very strong work-life boundaries are the key to a successful teaching career

I know this sounds weird, but I think of sports and I tell myself that this is the third quarter. The last quarter is the easiest. We review all standards, give EOG assessments, have field day, awards day, and then the game is over. I won!

It is a common thing. It's my 5th year at the school where I teach now. It doesn't get easier at my school because we're such a small private school and our enrollment is low. So I at least figured out why it's like this for me. That has helped me deal with it. If you figure out the "why", you can decide whether or not to stay or switch schools.

I know I am going back to a bunch of behaviors because they have been out of routine, and I am getting a new student. So I am also dragging my feet. However, I miss my kiddos and my staff! You need to find your spot. Wish the best of luck!

Principals, grade level and groups of kids all make the difference. Last year I had such a rough group. This year I changed grade levels also. It’s so much better this year. (I went from kinder to first.)
I tend to disagree that putting in less time helps. Personally I enjoy teaching more the greater I “rock it”. The kids sense an unprepared teacher. They respect a prepared teacher. Maybe I need more time to be prepared. 😉
It’s also very important to be able to be in control. If you know you are going back to school where you will have no control, that’s not fun. My principal taught me this through example. She has 450 kids responding and freezing in silence at her signal. Practice with an attention getting call and response until it is mastered faithfully. Don’t be afraid to be stern. Make it your goal on day one back after break. Then you always have that control and you can do so much more. And it gets fun.

The first five years are the hardest in teaching. I’m in my fifth year and still feel the same way but I hear it gets a little better after this. You start to become more comfortable and confident in yourself and learn what works and what doesn’t. Good luck!

One thing about a lengthy break is that you can reset/revisit procedures as the students tend to have some degree of mind erasure. Dread is rather stressing, like anticipating the dentist visit. Instead of letting yourself feel that way, grab the bull by the horns. In the classroom review the rules and expectations. Outside the classroom, utilize email or whatever your school has for mass communication with the parents to ask for their help with their youngsters. Be positive as you review the rules and expectations with them in a generalized communication because it’s a team effort, you and the parents.

If the students tend towards misconduct in labs — I noticed you id’d yourself as a science teacher — spend more time on concept building via reading and writing and hold the labs out as a reward for good behavior. Little rewards like Dumdums or Jolly Ranchers can be utilized to reward the kids who get on task quickly, such as taking care of the bellringer. My students tended to hustle when they saw candy being handed out. I designed a thank you card using my computer at home and made photocopies to give to my high schoolers who made a C or better in my class at midterm and quarter’s end. It was fun for me because I had physical evidence of how successful my students were — I taped a lot of dumdums into those cards and wrote each kid’s name on them using a calligraphy pen and gold ink.

If your school uses teaming, for example, where you and the other core teachers have the same batch of kids, talk to your teammates. They may have some suggestions and perhaps interventions may occur where the kids see you all acting as a united front.

Finding joy in your day is essential, whether it involves positive interactions with some of your students or colleagues, choices of science videos or hands-on activities for the students which you also enjoy, or amusing yourself with personal tech (the tech toys are way cooler these days compared to what was around in 1992 when I started teaching in Nevada!). After all, the old saying is only too true for teachers: If mama ain’t happy, no one will be happy. This will get you through a tough year.

I hope this helps a little. We’ve all been there.

It's common 😞

I agree with Indiana. Figure out the “why” and then go from there.

It can be the culture at your school. You may need a change... curriculum, parents, admin and students... think about what you value the most. You won’t find the ideal school but find joy.

Breaks are usually pretty tough for me. Well, the last days of break. I can feel myself slipping into a funk of sorts, so I can understand what you mean. I usually try to stop my thoughts about impending school tasks (sometimes I’m successful, other times I’m not).
I’m going to take the advice of your earlier Indiana responder and figure out my why, but not until Thursday evening sometime. This is my family and my time. Haha.

I feel that same way. My 3rd year too. I feel like this is maybe not the profession for me. I love the students. It's just everything else. Too much stress. Too much pressure to please people above me. Feel like my efforts in the classroom are fruitless. At my last school no one really cared what I did. It was bad in a million ways, but I could have authentic teaching moments (even if they were few and far between). Everyone is all over me at this school and there is no good authentic teaching at all. I feel like a failure.

This year is the first one I've had this struggle. It's been a rough year for a lot of my team members and it helps to know we aren't alone with how we're feeling.

I agree with California on the fact that you have to make time for family time. I actually work 6 days a week in order to get my room ready, lessons planned, and grading done. I usually take Saturday off and head to school for about 6 it so hours on Sunday after church. I have tried to make Sunday my day off but I am exhausted by the end of the week and just can't make myself go to school on Saturday.
I also agree that there is always one more thing that needs to get done. Teaching is never done. Lol
There is going to be pros and cons to any job. Teaching does seem to have more factors that can be cons but the bottom line is the kids and how teaching them makes you feel. If that is rewarding and makes you know you're in the right career then you are.
Best of luck! This is not an easy profession but extremely rewarding one. ❤

I have 26 years in and until the past 2 years, I have always enjoyed my job. I work with Intellectually Disabled students K-5 and the severity of disabilities and behavior along with the bureaucracy and expectations and lack of support from administration has made it so hard. Sometimes I feel as though I am beating my head against a wall because no matter what approaches we take, there is very little positive progress and there's no support from parents or administrators. My way of handling it all is to leave my job at the door no matter how heartbreaking the situations are. I go home, enjoy my time at home with my husband and family, dig into a craft and put it out of my mind. Throughout my years, I have always appreciated the blessings in my life more so because of the students I work with and will continue to do so. At this point I make a point of leaving it in the classroom and am looking forward to retirement.

One day at a time. Pick one thing that you can focus on improving and how you’re going to do it. Follow through at all costs and track your own progress. When that piece of the puzzle comes together, work on the next one. It’s not all going to go perfectly, but progress is progress.

I'm sorry to hear that. What is making it so hard for you?

I will honest it's the kids I teach. Administration, those in charge etc are no help. But I know the children need someone who has their best interests at heart

Why do you dread going back? What grade do you teach? Maybe you need to change grade levels.