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clouddancer
Gatchamaniac
I am an Owl.
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Registration Date: 10-04-2007
Posts: 12239
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It has been a while since I last posted – early January I think. And although I have been in contact with some of you through email or PM's, I thought I should give everyone an update.
My class that was difficult to deal with before Christmas, turned into the class from he** upon my return after Christmas. The students who already were rude and disrespectful with each other, were now outright defiant and refused to listen to anything I asked. Insisting on leaving the room and wandering the school whenever they felt like. Calling me names and eventually throwing items at me.
I would return home 2 or 3 nights a week in tears wondering what I could do next to get through to these children and help them realize what they were doing and saying. The nights I was not crying I would just return home for a three hour "nap" before waking up and trying to figure out what I would do survive the next day. I was no longer working day by day like I had been before Christmas, but almost hour by hour. (I just have to keep them from hurting each other this hour. Deal with a problem that has cropped up over recess and then hopefully have the children settle down for the next hour until lunch. etc.)
In lat February, after trying every strategy and skill I knew to calm the class and bring them back into line, my Principal offer me and "out." He suggested I step away from the class and take on a different position in the school - one of a planning time teacher. Meaning I would be rotating through most of the classes in the school providing lessons while the core teacher had their time to plan for their lessons.
I took several days to think about this option. At first feeling like I was a failure not being able to help the students in my class (and even bigger for me feeling like my principal was telling me I was a failure because he WANTED me to step away.) But eventually I realized the stress of the situation in that class was severely affecting my health, and that a change might not only be beneficial to myself but also the children in the class.
It was decided I would continue in the class until out Winter/Spring break - which was the second week in March. After the break I would begin in my new role.
I have now been working in this role for 3 weeks and it has been a huge relief to me - at least stress wise. I am now able to return home in the evening and think beyond work. To start thinking about myself and treating myself again instead of having children/behaviour and lessons as my main focus.
I do still have some stresses. In my school I can't get away from ALL the bad behaviours - I have 2 grade 3 classes who drive me crazy with some of the same issues I used to deal with in my grade 1 class, but at least I only have them every other day for 40 minutes instead of all day. I do also have to deal with my old class - but since I get to take them to the computer lab, in most cases I am happy dealing with them.
Another concern is having to teach music and health to a couple of the classes (two of my weakest subject areas), but after a good look at the curriculum and doing online searches I figure I will be able to muddle through to the end of the school year. Even if it means I have to do lots of outdoor "activities" instead of trying to teach.
As for my old class - well it looks like their new teacher - is not doing much better than I was, even when for the first week and a half she had extra support with her. So now I feel much more reassured that it was not ME that caused ALL the problems in the class.
I would like to thank those people who supported me over the last month or so while I was making this big decision. As well as all of you who were not aware you were supporting me, because even though I never did any posting, I was still lurking and reading many of the stories and threads that were being posted. They were a small break from the insanity my life had become.
Hopefully I will be able to make more posts now that I feel like my life is settling down again. Although after 8 weeks in a high stress situation I suspect it may take that long for my health to settle back to normal.
__________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.
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08-04-2012 23:57
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