All About Teaching >> Help Me! What Should I Do? >> Want to quit - help!
Want to quit - help!
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Posted 2 months ago I am a fourth year high school social studies teacher and my morale is lower than rock bottom. I took a year off to get my Master's degree and now am back at a different school in the same area that I was teaching before. I am teaching the same subjects as my previous 3 years and the demographics, kids, etc... are relatively the same as my old school. Unfortunately, I am more miserable than I ever have been before. I try to stay positive and have a good attitude but it gets harder each day. The thought of 30 more weeks of school makes me despair. I have never felt like a worse teacher and almost every day I find myself searching for a way I could 'get out' that somehow wouldn't burn bridges and let multitudes of people down (which I know is impossible). I never let on to the kids that I am feeling this badly (and that some of them might be a cause!) but my personal relationships are getting an earful (and then some!) I really need some motivation, inspiration, something, to get me through this. Please help! |
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| Posted 2 months ago Well, You really might consider getting out if your feelings are this strong. It is not healty for you, your students, or the school in general to have you feeling this way. If you can't find support or guidance from your administration or your school counselor then you should probably consider resigning from your position. Hate to say it, but teaching is not for everyone. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
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| Posted 2 months ago Yeah I dunno what to do. My first 3 years were great, I loved what I was doing and was considered good at it. I am not sure if its the school change, or the year off, or what, but something is definitely 'off' this year. |
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| Posted 2 months ago Stick with it. Here's what happens when you change schools and/or take time off. You don't know anyone. They don't know you. You feel really isolated. The kids almost treat you like a sub. Teaching is about relationships. When you begin to build them once again, you'll feel better. Also, as the year progresses, your skills will begin to be sharpened and you'll feel better about that as well. |
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| Posted 2 months ago kace2923 As a currrently out of work teacher my advice to you is; find someone to talk to that you trust ASAP.All it takes is 1 friend at school to make life a litle easier. Once you resign from the district you may be blacklisted from teaching.You didn't mention which state you work in??? Some states are legally allowed to sanction you for not fulfilling your contract. I agree with dhastings |
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| Posted 2 months ago According to this article, you are quite possibly experiencing burn out so it's too late to prevent it, but this article gives instructions on how to recover and bounce back from the burn out. We all experience it from time to time...you're no different. Just recognize it as such and you can work through it. We're all rooting for you! The article says: If constant stress has you feeling disillusioned, helpless, and completely worn out, you may be suffering from burnout. When you’re burned out, problems seem insurmountable, everything looks bleak, and it’s difficult to muster up the energy to care—let alone do something about your situation. The unhappiness and detachment burnout causes can threaten your job, your relationships, and your health. But burnout can be healed. If you recognize the signs and symptoms of burnout in its early stages, simple stress management strategies may be enough to solve the problem. In the later stages of burnout, recovery may take more time and effort, but you can still regain your balance by reassessing your priorities, making time for yourself, and seeking support. More: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/burnout_signs_symptoms.htm Also: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/11/AR2... |
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| Posted 2 months ago I think a lot of teachers have probably been in your shoes at one time or another. I know I have. For me it was a case of finding something that I truly still believed in. Something that I believed was worth wiping the slate clear and pressing the reset button for. That will be different for different people. Try and find that motivation that got you into teaching in the first place. Look for things in your job that you do actually enjoy and focus the most of your energies on that. Counting the weeks will likely not help. You need a more positive mindset than that. Try and see the bigger picture, instead of just the short term hassles and stress. Three times I nearly quit, but I still teach today and am glad I do. This job is unlike may others. It is not something you switch off at 4pm until 9am the next day. Find time for yourself to do things you enjoy outside of school. Keep a balance between home and work life and things will soon become better in both areas. This is what helped me.l Hopefully it will help you.
www.mrwylie.com
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| Posted 2 months ago Have you got an increased pay? That might be a great way to feel that things are not that bad as it seems.
I think maybe you could also help initiate some new program in your school. What I mean is that if you do get involved in things other than work, that would be very helpful in making onself feel more motivated and worthy after the Masters. Good luck. |
