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You wntered teaching when it turned to a whole new beast. It isnt what it once was. You're still infant enough in the career to leave should you choose. You can transfer your skills to a tutoring service, depending on your license specialty you may qualify for a corporate or office job. Don't take too long deciding if you are truly unhappy. Many of us veterans see conditions deteriorating but we have so much time invested it's too late to start anew. We have retirement plans that grew and we have a comfortable salary we will not see anywhere else. And I don't care what anyone says, it can be the students as well as your work demands. Especially when admin doesn't give support for behaviors that are out of control.
When I start back in 2005 as a parapro, I loved working with students. So, I got my certification and started in another county and lasted only one year because of poor admin support. Next, I went to a middle school from elementary in 2016. There was great admin support and a learning curve to work on because all my experience was in elementary schools. Of course, this was before Covid happened. Now, students seem to careless with more off-task behaviors. Students have less respect for teachers.
Re-think your options. A couple of weeks ago I spoke to a student teacher that worked with us last year. She changed her career even though she wants to work with children, but what she saw changed her mind. Her concerns were mostly burnout with all teachers do.
If you’re not willing to stay, you should leave. Write a list of what you’re good at doing and seriously consider whether you want to stay or leave. It’s not worth your sanity or happiness.
But consider the good in the profession like knowing you have made a difference in a child’s educational journey and sometimes in the lives of their families. Now remember this, pay NO attention to administration. When they tell you to do something just agree and do what you know works. Many of them don’t know what they are doing and it trickles down to us.
You’ll be fine either way. Best of luck to you!
For me, I never planned to stay in teaching. I always wanted to go into doing therapy and social work. I just bought a life coach certification course so I can have something extra to do while I finish my MSW and this last year of teaching.
Curious what Life Coach Certification you decided on? I'm looking into that as well.
What’s your work situation? What are the triggers? Is it the kids’ behaviors? Is it your work load/ schedule? Administration? Parents? Is it a lack of resources or curriculum structure that makes it difficult to do your job? If you are more specific, people can probably help. I e been teaching since ‘89. I’m retiring in December at the end of the semester, and I’ve been in junior high (7/9) for 95% of it. It’s a tough job!!! If you spell out the problems, maybe I or others can help. 🙏
The answer is probably yes to all, lol, I mean it is to me.
Long-time teacher here. I feel so bad for new teachers. This job has become so much more difficult in recent years. It started before COVID, but that certainly made it worse. My daughter saw the problems during student teaching, and decided to get a masters in Human Resources, taking evening and online courses. She's been happy in that field. She has heavy responsibilities but she's not dealing with the stress of difficult students anymore. Her job pays better than mine too. Pick a field that interests you and work on that degree in the evenings. Best wishes!
Kind of in the same boat, trying to decide if I can stick it out and see if things get better, but I feel like my job is just putting out fires everyday, there are teachable moments in our day but most of the time it's just chaotic. I'm worried I'm just not strong enough basically.
I can relate to you. This is the worst year I have ever put in. We have had a change in special Ed and the new tc does hardly anything. Comes in 1/2 after school starts, spends a good deal of time in the office. If any mistakes are made we are thrown under the bus. But have not been trained on any of the new changes. Then the new freshman are not great. Very disrespectful. I wanted to stay one more year , but don’t know if it is worth it.
That's tough to answer. I can definitely tell you I felt that way for the first two years of teaching. And the next two. And the two after.
Now at twenty plus it is better... sometimes. But also sometimes not. And the good and the bad in ten or twenty years are totally unpredictable. The things that will make this easier. The things that will make this harder. None of us can predict any of that.
I swear I used to go home every night for two years promising myself I would quit at the end of the week. Still here ,albeit different school. There are still moments when I rant and rave and start writing my resignation out. It's the days a student tells you you are his inspiration, or the student who can finally writes a short paragraph in English that keeps me going and yes I know that sounds "Hallmark channel " but works for me (that and a treat on Fridays).
I am a 2 year teacher assistant for like 5 years prior. Still have 5 classes until taking teaching licensure test. Why oh why is this so hard… probably because I am 58! I will someday go to retail just to go home and be home and not have to worry about anything! You are not alone!!
Get out!! Run!
Answer this question because it is at the root of your problem:
"Why did I want to get into teaching in the first place?"
I have been teaching for 10 years and I have seen many come and go. Teaching is REALLY a calling, like being a Pastor.
You do NOT do it for the money, you do NOT do it for the holidays or the prestige. Most teachers, and I include myself, have a love for 2 things:
The people (Students, other teachers, staff, i.e. the community) that they teach and the SUBJECT that they teach!
When the students/community is being rough, then they lean on their love of the subject that they teach and vice versa.
You have to find the LOVE sometimes!
Now, as I said, I have been teaching for 10 years and THIS Semester has been the worst by far! Most of it I attribute to the current political purge created by national politics which makes everyone hate each other and walk on eggshells and the pandemic. So teaching, or anything really working with people, is rough right now. With SO much hate being spewed on both sides of the political aisle, it is not hard to see why it is so bad right now, but there is hope! When I found myself in this rough semester, I talked with a few people in my department and even talked to a specialist for Teacher Burnout (it is a real thing!) and the one prevailing thought that I have gotten is "Sometimes you have to FIND the love!" With that mantra in toe, I have bettered my semester, it is still the worst, especially my duty- the absolute worst part of my day/week, but I am able to work through it, so far.
If Teaching is not a calling for you, then I do agree with some of the others and 'get out of it.' However, if it IS a calling for you, search high and low for the LOVE. Maybe try a different subject/grade level.
Hang in there we were all there, been doing this for 38 years! I always tell rookies, get to the 3 third year and you figure it out! It's a great career, in Cal. we are well paid, great medical insurance, coach, and work for a good school district... what a life...
Hello,
You are not alone!! At some point many teachers have felt this way. Find your peace. If this means leaving the field of education, do so. Do what is best for YOU!! You have many skills and talents and would best serve in the area that makes you HAPPY!!
What grade do you teach??? Do you have the support of your colleagues?? Is there a mentor to help and support you?? You shouldn't need to go back to school, unless you wish to get your masters or certification in another area of expertise.
If you are serious, you should talk to someone in your leadership team about this.
16 years ago, I was ready to quit. After expressing this to my principal, she helped me get through the year, lightened my load and gave me a better assignment the next.
I eventually got pretty good at teaching and feel like I can survive anything this job can throw at me now.
This job is difficult under the best of circumstances, though we have no data to support this statement except that it's always been hard, and constantly changing.
The first 3 years are tough, it will get better.
You might want to try teaching in the lower grades first before you leave teaching.
I almost think the lower grades are worse. They are for my daughter
Wow, I’m so sorry you feel like this. Sit down and think to yourself. Is this really what you want to do? If so, look at what’s going great as to what’s not going good. I’m I able to reach the students? Are their behaviors that triggers your lesson/teaching? Do you have support from your colleagues or administrators?
I was an assistant for years and I decided to teach because I was doing most of the work that were supposed to be done by the teachers. I stayed in primary grades and I refuse to go to high school.
Dry the tears and see yourself doing great. What grade do you teach?
Run!!!!!
Same boat. I’m leaving in January. Look into nonprofits- the skills we have as teachers transfer perfectly to the nonprofit world! I’m sorry you’re feeling this way but know that you are not stuck and your skills can transfer to new things!!! And it’s OK to leave in the middle of the year. Don’t let anybody tell you differently!
Also, check out Teacher Career Coach. Her podcast and website really helped me tune up my resume and figure out what jobs like to hire teachers. This is my 7th year teaching and every year I say I’m going to quit and I finally just took the leap!
I have not always been a teacher - only for the last 12 years. I've had many jobs in many different industries.
I have never heard anyone in any job in my 47 years on this planet where people have your exact story as I have from teachers.
You should know that this is not how it should be. You can do better, you have trained for better.
For many, it is a terrible heartbreak - like I mean DUMBFOUNDED heartbreak - when one realizes that the industry of education is not the endearing and wonderful child-centered lovely experience that they thought. Even in the best circumstances, politics, capitalism (not a bash on all forms, but it definitely does no favors for education), human ego, and power compromise the job.
Get out now. Find a better path for yourself. Sit with yourself for a while as you process this. It's a broken heart. Time will help and then you will move on.
Not just teachers that feel it. I was a full-time bus driver for 13 years, last 3 was special ed only. I've only subbed as a driver during my technician job the last 6. I can handle the high school and middle school kids fine, but these new elementary kids make me never want to drive a regular route again. I'm too close to retirement to leave and go somewhere else, yet I'm too far from retirement to stand the job much more. Same problems as others on this thread, lack of follow-up from administrators when issues need to be resolved, too many parents who don't care about/ignore their kids behavior, so it never gets resolved, but kick them off the bus and you think you just started WWIII... My family and I also just started a small venue axe throwing range, so at least I can go after work and get my frustrations out if need be....and if it takes off the way I'm hoping, might get me an early retirement too.
The sad truth is education isn’t getting any better. Students are feeling more entitled every year, standards are being lowered to accommodate parents who refuse to accept responsibility and blame is being shifted to teachers. I’d say you’re lucky it only took two years and you weren’t trapped in this career before it was too late to get out.
Exactly! 2 yrs isn't long enough to not look at other careers before there is 15+ yrs invested.
I totally feel this! My first year of teaching was during the pandemic and it was so awful. I considered leaving at the end of that year but instead I looked at teaching a higher grade level. I’ve been happy at my middle school but I’m definitely starting to burn out of teaching. Not sure if I’ll go up to a high school classroom or just find another job altogether. It’s a tough profession, that’s for sure. Whatever you do though, make sure your happiness is #1