Lilllabettt Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 So I'm doing Teach for America, which is this program that takes new college grads, trains them over a summer and inserts them into under-performing public schools. I'm just about to begin my last week of this training, and it has been emotional bludgeoning. The work is intense ... People have breakdowns, cry, scream, get 3 hours of sleep. I have not done those things except the crying ... which I do pretty much every day. usually I get 5 hrs sleep, which has been nice. It is almost over now, but instead of being relieved, I am getting even more anxious. What is my classroom going to be like? Am I really prepared? What if it is this bad, only instead of a summer its for 2 whole years?? (It is a 2 year commitment) What if it is even worse??? Basically I am feeling doomed. I can't quit now, I already signed a lease on an apartment in oklahoma. I don't even know what I want from posting this ... advice, comfort or what. anyone on phatmass done TFA? Anyone on phatmass a teacher? Ohhhhh I am just sooooo stressed. pray for me please. ugh more tears! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) Hey Lillabettt. Your intelligent and witty. The kids you teach are going to love you. You will be prepared because you're both intelligent and down to earth. You have a good head on your shoulders. You'll be plenty ready. You don't just have smarts in terms of raw intelligence. You also have a lot of wisdom that those kids are going to benefit from being exposed to. You're going to be a positive force in a lot of kids lives and you're going to be one of those teachers that they remember well into adulthood. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/like.gif[/img] I really mean that. If I thought there was any chance that you would do anything less than knock this out of the park I'd just ignore this topic. In all honesty I have no doubt at all that you'd make a great teacher. If I had kids I'd be thrilled if they had you for a teacher. Edited July 11, 2011 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Also. I'm not afraid to punch a child. Or anyone smaller and weaker than me for that matter. So if they give you any trouble let me know. Or call Winchester. He's closer but equally morally bankrupt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Well for one thing, you've got my prayers! And I think it's perfectly natural to feel stressed as we go from one thing in life to another, especially a major one like this! Just keep telling yourself that it'll be great experience, that it helps with paying the loans off, and that you can do this! I know my mom has taught for more than three decades now, and she and the other "veteran" teachers love any new teacher that actually cares; so I imagine it will be much the same wherever you end up. Caring enough that you're stressed and crying means that once you're in that classroom, you'll give a darn about your students, and that alone will make you better than a whole lot of people! Also have you tried anything for anxiety non-prescription wise maybe? I know I sometimes take some magnesium and valerian supplements to help with the anxiety of the program I'm in, and they've worked pretty well for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Oh, and whatever you do, unless you're in certain school districts in Texas but living in Oklahoma, let Hasan or Winchester hurt any kids you may feel the need to. Really though, you're smart, you care. Those are two major things in your favor right off the bat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissScripture Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Prayers! Like BG said, something this big is bound to make you anxious. It's a big change! But you're tough. You can do it. And no matter what happens, your Phatmass Phamily will love you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Normile Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1310356356' post='2265579'] Hey Lillabettt. Your intelligent and witty. The kids you teach are going to love you. You will be prepared because you're both intelligent and down to earth. You have a good head on your shoulders. You'll be plenty ready. You don't just have smarts in terms of raw intelligence. You also have a lot of wisdom that those kids are going to benefit from being exposed to. You're going to be a positive force in a lot of kids lives and you're going to be one of those teachers that they remember well into adulthood. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/like.gif[/img] I really mean that. If I thought there was any chance that you would do anything less than knock this out of the park I'd just ignore this topic. In all honesty I have no doubt at all that you'd make a great teacher. If I had kids I'd be thrilled if they had you for a teacher. [/quote] Yeah that . Whats the worse that can happen, maybe you end up in a straight jacket in a padded cell? ed Edited July 11, 2011 by Ed Normile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 You will feel underprepared - heck, you probably will be [i]actually[/i] underprepared - when you first go into the classroom. You will have to deal with a lot of cross-cultural stuff - you'll have your expectations, they'll have theirs, you won't even realize you're talking past each other, they'll tell you true horror stories that you've never even imagined, that kind of thing. But as everyone else has said, you're smart, sensible, wise, and caring. You might cry every day - in which case, the training is really spot on - but you'll grow in the job. You'll grow as a teacher and as a person. You're doing the right thing. You are stressed. You'll be stressed again. You will not succeed with every student. But you will succeed with some students, and that's as much as any teacher can do - because the teacher is only half of the education equation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG45 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 [quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1310357930' post='2265621'] You will feel underprepared - heck, you probably will be [i]actually[/i] underprepared - when you first go into the classroom. You will have to deal with a lot of cross-cultural stuff - you'll have your expectations, they'll have theirs, you won't even realize you're talking past each other, they'll tell you true horror stories that you've never even imagined, that kind of thing. But as everyone else has said, you're smart, sensible, wise, and caring. You might cry every day - in which case, the training is really spot on - but you'll grow in the job. You'll grow as a teacher and as a person. You're doing the right thing. You are stressed. You'll be stressed again. You will not succeed with every student. But you will succeed with some students, and that's as much as any teacher can do - because the teacher is only half of the education equation. [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Luigi' timestamp='1310357930' post='2265621'] But as everyone else has said, you're smart, sensible, wise, and caring. You might cry every day - in which case, the training is really spot on - but you'll grow in the job. You'll grow as a teacher and as a person. You're doing the right thing. You are stressed. You'll be stressed again. You will not succeed with every student. But you will succeed with some students, and that's as much as any teacher can do - because the teacher is only half of the education equation. [/quote] Exactly Edited July 11, 2011 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Honestly, with the state of teaching in Oklahoma, as long as you can see lightening and hear thunder, and don't molest the kids, you should be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 [quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1310359026' post='2265635'] Honestly, with the state of teaching in Oklahoma, as long as you can see lightening and hear thunder, and don't molest the kids, you should be fine. [/quote] / / And what about tornadoes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Eliza do not be stressy. Well go ahead and be stressy. But remember what Macbeth said, come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day. You are always quoting that to me so now I quote it to you! Be pleased that you beat out at least a few Harvard and Yaley types to get your spot in the program. One day this will be a memory and you will have gotten through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luigi Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Maggie's sig quote: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle! Do you want to change that to: St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in class! Design a T-shirt. Sell it to teachers all over the country. Make your million. Repay your loans that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groo the Wanderer Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1310356356' post='2265579'] Your intelligent and witty. [/quote] you're Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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