I Want to Quit
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive September 2006:
I Want to Quit
I am feeling overwhelmed. This year I am teaching a grade 1-2-3 multi-grade class. I am feeling overwhelmed. I am up late every night trying to figure out how to fit it all in. I'm concerned about how to teach my ones to read, get my grade three students ready for provincial testing and not lose my grade two students in the process.
I don't feel as though I have the energy that I need for a position like this. I want to be home for my own babies. My dd is 10 now and she's experiencing some of the pre-teen junk. I feel as though when I am home I am thinking about what I need to get done for school. For school, some days I just don't feel like I know where to begin.
We can't really afford for me to quit and I've given my word. I just don't feel as though my heart is in it which isn't fair to me, my students or my family.
I just don't know what to do. Thanks ladies for letting me vent.
(((Paula))) Wow, I've never heard of a 1-2-3 multi-grade class in this day and age. As a former teacher myself, just the thought of it makes me feel anxious.
Wish I had some help to offer. But as Trina states, I can't imagine having all three grades together. 1 and 2 okay, but 3 is so transitional and IMPORTANT. How does the school handle working w/ the teachers? Seems there should be something so that the students remain priority. My heart goes out to you.
Paula, why do they have you doing 3 grades at once? We always have a 2/3 split, and the teachers hate it because of grade 3 testing. I wouldn't think the parents would like it much, either.
I can't imagine doing three grades at once either! Yes, two at once is fairly common, but not three!
As a former teacher, I feel for you so much. Teaching is so difficult...I personally feel it's one of those jobs that takes your time morning to night because even when you're home you're constantly thinking about it, planning, dealing with parents, etc. If only as teachers we could just teach, and with all of the testing it makes the burden even worse because you feel so much pressure.
Lots of (((hugs))) It's hard enough keeping everyone going on their level with ONE grade, let alone THREE!!!
I think as teachers we just have to say that you're going to do the best you can do, and at some point once you have a family you have to stop bringing it home with you. I know how hard that can be, believe me! I struggled with it before kids and I can't imagine doing it now.
Hugs and more hugs.
{{{{Paula}}}}
I remember when you were trying to decide if you should take this job. No advice here, but I am really sorry you are feeling so overwhelmed. Are there any other positions you can look into for next semester or even next year?? If you are that stressed & unhappy, you will have to make another change in the future.
:-(
Paula, I've seen you post several times in the past few years, always about being unhappy for some reason in your current job, and applying for a new job, and worrying about breaking your commitment at the old job. It seems you've had several teaching job changes in just the past two or three years alone. Perhaps teaching isn't the right career for you....never being satisfied in your job situation kind of seems like red flags. Is there another career path that appeals to you? Or would administrative work within a school be more suited to you? Or maybe you just want to take some time off right now and focus on your own family. Maybe teaching is right for you, but not right now. If you can't afford to stay home, perhaps you could get an evening or weekend job somewhere....even if it's a supermarket or restaurant job. Just something to bring in some money for a few years, yet allow you to stay home much of the time with the kids. Also, could you tutor?? Maybe you could get enough 'clients' to tide you over financially but still only be part time. Or could you just sub?
Whatever you do, I think you need to take a long, honest look at the past few years. It seems mighty stressful, the constant changing. Your resume must look flighty, too. That won't help you in the long run. I'm sorry to be so honest, but for some reason your posts about your jobs have stuck with me and I've always felt bad for your students most of all. Good luck...
Following a LITTLE bit along the lines of Kate's post, that's one of the reasons I chose to stay home and quit teaching for a while. Having taught for 7 years I know how stressful it is. Any teacher that tells you it isn't stressful (I'm sorry, JMHO) is NOT doing their job!!! I really felt that if I went back, I wouldn't be doing a good job at anything, least of all teaching. I didn't think I'd be a good mother, a good wife, OR a good teacher. That's just me though. Teaching is so important to me that I didn't want to do it halfway, which I knew it would while I have a little one at home. It's even more stressful when you're moved around each year, which thankfully I never had to do when I was teaching.
I don't know about you Paula, but I wouldn't sub unless I financially HAD to! Sorry Kate, that's just the way this former teacher feels!! LOL I would likely find something else to do if I really needed the $. That's just like going to hell or boredom every day...one extreme or the other with rarely an in-between.
I have a couple of friends who are in a more stable situation than you are (meaning they've been int he same grade in the same building for a while) that are wishing they could stay home. For the both of them, they have a Masters which is an automatic "you quit you're done unless you want to go into administration". Neither of them feels like they are doing their classrooms or their families justice, and they do need their salaries but COULD make do if needed. I know they are both unhappy and I feel for them. I thank my lucky stars I was smart enough to wait on my Masters or resigning would have been an even bigger decision than it already was. I'm not sure I could have done it, and then I'd be in the same boat.
I like teaching and don't know if a career change is in the cards right now.
Yes, I have posted about being overwhelmed about my job in the past few years but it's been a stressful time.
2006-2006: Grade 1-2-3 multi-age class at an old school with no supplies
2005-2006: started doing a grade 2 maternity leave at a school one hour away. I found the commute too difficult and DH couldn't get a job closer so I quit and took a part-time grade 3 job at my children's school. This way easier and I managed to find some ME time as well since it was part-time.
2004-2005: didn't have a job at the beginning of the year due to cut backs. Then I was phoned on a Friday night and asked if I could turn a music room into a Kindergarten room and be ready to teach Tuesday morning (Monday was a holiday)
2003-2004: moved to a new province, DH started a new job. Did not have a job at the beginning of the school year. Got a grade 1 maternity leave by October.
2002-2003: lost my job due to cut-backs. Started out the year subbing. Then was convinced by human resources to take a Grade 10-12 sewing position at the high school (I'm a primary teacher). After a week, my old job was posted. My previous principal pulled some strings and I went back to my previous school teaching K/1 split.
2001-2002: First day of school was called in to the office with the Principal and Union rep b/c someone was grieving my being hired. I was new to the community and got the job right away. I had to re-apply. I still got the 1/2 position but it was a stressful time.
So in the last 6 years I have taught:
1/2, High School sewing, K/1, grade 1, Kindergarten, grade 2, grade 3 and Grade 1-2-3 and worked in 7 different schools.
Kate, actually my resume doesn't seem flightly. I've only quit once and that was b/c of family and a long commute. The constant changes have been due to moving or taking temporary position. There are maternity leaves and such around here but not a lot of permanent positions so the changes have been because of this not because I quit jobs all the time.
I know I sound stressed but I think anyone would in a 1-2-3 split class. I was attending a conference yesterday and people couldn't believe that I had a situation like this. I wasn't saying I was stressed at the conference, just asking questions on how to adapt certain things for the three levels. Most teachers in a 1-2-3 class have aid time. I have an hour a day.
I'm sorry I sound defensive. I think I was having a bad day on Thursday when I originally posted. I am about to start a Rocks and Minerals unit and I don't know much about it. I know I can learn it so that's not a problem. I don't have the resources and the division doesn't really want to spend money on our school since it's always on the verge of shutting down. It's just frustrating.
Marcia, sorry I forgot to answer your question in my post.
We have a 1-2-3 class because the school only has 2 classes. We have a Kindergarten class run by a TA. I am responsible for overseeing it, doing testing and signing report cards but the aid runs the program.
Then we have my room (1-2-3) and the 4-5-6 room. The parents have fought hard to keep the school going so it won't get shut down. Our school doesn't get high priority though. Our students are the first to be dropped off by the bus and the last to be picked up. Our teachers (myself and one other) have 5 hours of supervision a week.
I was just thinking about something you wrote Kate. Please don't feel sorry for my students. They are the bright lights in this situation.
During the times I have felt overwhelmed or frustrated it has not been with the children but with the system. In my present situation, it is the system that is making me feel overwhelmed.
I'm also thinking that I feel like this alot in September but then things start to calm down.
I've been thinking a lot about this post last night and this morning. I guess teaching really is in my blood since I feel I got so defensive when someone suggested a different career path might be in the cards. Sorry about my defensive.
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