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I’m a 7th grade ELA teacher in Texas!
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If you can I would set up a one on one meeting with the teacher you're shadowing and lay out some of your concerns. If she has the time she's probably the best person to ask! Don't worry too much about being overworked, I personally think there isn't a teacher in this country who isn't working a bit more than they should be.
First, I think it's fantastic that you've always wanted to be an English teacher, we need more of them! Second, to be totally harshly honest with you, yes, lots of teaching positions are like this and yes, especially in low income schools. THAT BEING SAID, working for a low income school doesn't guarantee you'll be overworked or underfunded, I worked for a low income school for 6 years when I first started teaching and while I took on more roles for my students (sometimes counselor, sometimes babysitter after school if they couldn't get picked up) I also became a super adaptable teacher. At this point in my career I feel comfortable turning most discussions into an English lesson, which really decreases the amount of time I spend trying to get my students to pay attention or show interest in the subject material. I think working at a low income school is a great experience especially for a new teacher!
Yes, it’s all new to you, so it seems so overwhelming. And yes, teachers are overworked. Talk to your lead teacher about it. Also, start observing as to how you might do things differently. Can students correct some of the work? Would small groups work better? Are there a couple kids who are leaders that you could ask to take on more of helping or keeping kids in line? This is a great chance for you to think—and even suggest—different ways of doing things. Some may fail, some may not. But it’s a great opportunity to learn!
Mentor
Some upsides based on my years in low income schools
Parents generally respect your level of education. They might not be available or at the school a lot but they aren't prone to think they know more about content, texts, pedagogy, etc. They are less likely to nitpick over a 96 instead of a 100.
They won't be as prone to ask you to justify every book in your classroom library, every poem, every news article, etc. They are going to trust that you can teach their kid even if you are wearing comfortable tennis shoes and jeans.
Of course, they are going to find it harder to get to conferences. Their phone number and address might change without notice. The truth is, they might be homeless and not tell you.
Older siblings might be kept at home to babysit while mom/dad works. By the time the student had reached you they might have lost one or both their parents.
The limited financial resources of the school, families, and the community at large means your kids miss out on a lot. Very few field trips. Things like art and music will be limited because of limited budgets. Your students probably have a lot fewer life experiences like going to summer camp, extracurricular classes outside of school like dance classes, etc.
Now, these are broad generalizations. Doesn't apply to every kid or every low income school. And they same would be said on the opposite end. I am speaking in the most general terms.
Welcome to teaching! It’s like that everywhere, even private!
I applaud you for wanting to teach English, the least favorite subject of my students 🤣. ( Something about my expectations of them being too high🤔). My student teaching experience was waaaaay different from my actual teaching experience, but I’ll share for point of reference.
I ST in two of the highest performing high schools in my chosen district. Parents were business owners, politicians, lawyers…, and I loved every minute of it. I was given a framework of skills in literature/writing and given free reign to teach as I chose! I received rave reviews and a summer job offer.
Teaching jobs were in short supply back then, and after many months of applying and rejection, I had another interview. I was offered the position because of my ST experiences.
MIDDLE SCHOOL 😱 gave me the experience of a lifetime! I teach in a Title I (low income) school where I find that the students have more in common with the wealthy students than I thought. Hopes. Dreams. Goals. Drive. They also need expert teachers because of the deficiencies that they have been wearing for much of their educational lives.
If you want to see clear evidence of the difference you are making, teaching in an economically challenged school will give you a wide screen. I challenge all my students and I have the same expectations of them all, wealthy, welfare, homeless, honors, gifted, average, or special needs: their 100% best (bestestest;-) effort.
I have had great success in a low income school. Teach the students what they need to know and see their potential. The students need to know that you believe in what you are teaching them and respect them. Teaching today is a bigger challenge than ever before at all schools.
I worked at a private school and the students and administrators viewed the teachers as servants. Students were giving the orders. Teachers had to park in the back of the parking lot so that the students could park their new BMWs next to the school.
I have taught public, private, inner city, small town/rural, and large suburban. You will find challenges everywhere: there’s no utopia. That being said, kids in 2023 have much more interfering with their education than kids 25-30 years ago. At the same time, teachers have been tasked with many more requirements on top of all the traditional things like planning, teaching classes, and grading. There are FAR more meetings, online forms, PD’s, and high-needs students these days. I totally understand why we lose half our new teachers within a few years. It’s partially about pay and lack of respect, but it’s also about the overwhelming number of tasks and lack of time to complete them during the work day. It’s untenable unless you teach classes that are untested and have little paperwork. ELA is a huge challenge! Thanks for joining our ranks for however long you decide.