Angel - Michelle and Kidbiz, how long have you been teaching?
Michelle - I am still a relatively new teacher, going into third year, so I prepare and prepare. Summer hardly seems long enough.
Michelle - I am also an English teacher, so I read over the summer. This summer I am teaching. What about you?
Angel - I am going on my fourth year in special ed and it sure takes a lot out of you.
Angel - I am taking this summer off for now. I will be returning to work in August. I would love to have taken some classes though.
Michelle - SPED is really challenging. I finished up the year in a low school, lots of academic, financial, attention needs, I don't know if I want to return.
Michelle - You start early. I start 9/5, but got out 6/20. Where are you?
Angel - I know what you mean. It is so frustrating. I have been moved from an elementary setting to a junior high
Angel - I will be relocating to Kingman, Arizona.
Michelle - Are you working on a master's or advanced degree? I have been moved from middle school to HS.
Angel - We start actually on August 16th (yea)
Michelle - Relocating? Within your district, or a new move entirely. That's enough stress....
Angel - I am planning to work on my master's degree in Educational leadership
Michelle - What is Ed leadership? Do you already have a Ed.M. or MAT?
Angel - Well, it is a very long story. I am living with my parents now, but will be moving in early August.
Angel - I don't have my master's yet. I guess essentially, it is a program to help you become more effective.
Michelle - I can imagine that AZ does not pay very well, but I may be wrong. I live in MA and it varies. Do you want to remain a teacher?
Michelle - I ask that question because I see this year as my last. I'm a little tired of the politics and ill prepared students and bribing with lollypops, etc..
Angel - You're right, our legislature has just passed an initiative to raise the sales tax. I don't know if I want to stay in this field. I had a really rough year.
Angel - Do you guys think that there is any real solutions to help to us. I agree with you Michelle.
Michelle - I am teaching summer school for gifted & talented students. One of the teachers remarked today that the teacher next to her is often drunk during school.
Michelle - I am mostly working with senior teachers (15 years). There suggestion is higher salaries, classrooms, facilities for new teachers. They have seen so many new teachers come and go, they have stopped learning names.
Maddy - Hi, I am a very burned out teacher, 23 years in Special Ed (Primary)
Kris - Hi Maddy. Wow! 23 years. How in the world do you stay in it so long?
Maddy - I really love working with the kids, but all the other stuff is just killing me...
Michelle - Hi Maddy! I don't know how you SPED teachers do it. In my little tenure, I have seen the SPED teachers really beaten.
Kris - How do you keep from getting frustrated everyday?
Michelle - Beaten by paperwork, pta, principal, other teachers...
Maddy - I guess I've stayed because I have lots of support from home, and until recently, lots of support from parents of students.
Mary/PA - What are some of the signs and or symptoms of Burn Out?
Maddy - I decided a sign for me was making little mistakes, losing papers, getting frustrated too easily,
Kris - I think one sign is spending too much time and work. I also let my personal life go.
Kris - I taught a 3/4 inclusion class last year. This year, I will be doing jr. high resource math and language arts. Boy, am I nervous
Michelle - Gaining or losing weight, putting off haircuts, sleep, friends... complusive discussion of classroom/school issues.
Kathy - Michelle - are you describing your "burnout" features .. they sound like mine!
Mary/PA - How can we not let these things consume us?
Kris (angel) - I guess that we somehow need to make ourselves heard.
Michelle - oh yes, I can't seem to stop talking about school or thinking about it.
Maddy - One thing I've tried to do, is change jobs (within Special Ed.) every few years, it helps to keep me fresh. I've been in this position for 8 years, I think I've reached my limit. Any other ideas for staying fresh, fighting burnout?
Michelle - I gave up on exercise, but I know it works. I used to run and that would take me to another place mentally.
Kathy - especially the gaining weight! I need to take some off - but I keep eating the wrong things.
Kris (angel) - Start a support group, if that is possible. The one person, I tried to turn to ended up helping lose my elementary position.
Kathy - I'm hoping a job change will work for me. I was offered a reading consultant job in my area.
Michelle - Isn't that awful? I started drinking cases of soda.
Cindy - I'm in a classroom with another teach and it's hard to keep upbeat when the other is so negative.
Dee - Hi. I can relate to the burnout. I especially found it difficult after I had children.
Kris (angel) - I wasn't so negative until things got crazy for me.
Mary/PA - Cindy, that would be very difficult
Michelle - Kris (angel) What happened? Sometimes, (I have learned), that we have to put up a brave front even with other teachers. I try not to be negative lest someone take it wrong.
Mary/PA - Have you tried to talk to your supervisor about this?
Maddy - Anyone know about the Lesson from Children? People at work were talking about it, sounded like something to rejuvenate the soul, but I didn't take the time to enquire. That's all I know, just the name, I think Lesson from Children...Hoping someone else knows more.
Kathy - I really admire teachers with kids ... I don't know how you do it! My life seems consumed with school work ... I have to learn to make time for my self. (especially for that exercise!)
Dee - I had the same problem with working with a negative teacher. Also our whole building was negative toward our principal and a lot of back stabbing was going on.
Michelle - Cindy, I worked at a school where I had to avoid the teachers' lounge. They made me depressed with all the whining.
Mary/PA - The Principal can make or break a building
Michelle - Kathy, got to make a pact, E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E!
Kristie - I agree with you Mary.
Cindy - Mary/PA I have not yet but I may have to talk to her about it, because her burn out is affecting the children.
Kat - Hi Kristie. Maddy, keep going... I'd like to hear more
Michelle - I'm moving from the middle to HS, but I leave behind two great principals and a wonderful staff. I'm a little fearful of the fall.
Kathy - Yes, Michelle ... I agree! I just never seem to have the energy!
Kristie - I am scared too because I have never worked with jr. high students before.
Michelle - It's weird. I see and hear so many burnt out teachers; yet, I know that I couldn't stay in the professional forever, another year or two more....?
Kristie - I hope that this topic will be a regular feature, don't you?
Kat - It needs to be discussed in the schools!
nat - wow, i just started i don;t think i should be listening to this conversation...hee hee
Kristie - I tried, but it seems like I was more the problem.
Michelle - I guess I mean that these teachers want to retire as teachers, but they are mentally and spiritually unproductive.
Maddy - Having Student teachers has helped me combat burnout...when they are good, they bring rays of sun to classrooms
Kathy - I agree Kat ... it is said that teachers burn out so much ... yet more and more continues to be given to them to do!
Kristie - Then they really need to look at ways to make this a better profession.
Mary/PA - I know that many times I'm the one who is putting more than needed demands upon myself. I'm learning how to lighten up on myself.
Kat - Each school has its own problems & positive features... if, rather than whining between classes, faculty members need to exchange feelings & ideas about losing the spirit & love of teaching, before it's to late.
Michelle - I'm in English, but the SPED teachers have mountains of paperwork.
Kristie - Yes, and it seems to be getting out of hand.
Kat - Maddy, that's good to hear... I'm an English Ed. & Spanish Ed. double major, so I'll need to do double the student teaching...
Maddy - I think you are both right, there are more demands made by others, and we have to lighten up on ourselves
Cindy - I think you have to handle this situation carefully, ( a burnt out Teacher) how would you approach the person without offending them?
Michelle - Many corporations have team building and relaxing exercises, why not schools?
Kat - I know as a teaching-oriented student, it was frustrating having teachers who were so worn out & drained
Kat - exactly, Michelle
Kathy - Good question, Michelle!
Kristie - I think that there really needs to be someone hired by the school that can help teachers without it being looked as spying.
Maddy - Kat, I'm sorry you were sent to placements like that
Michelle - Add in the potential school shooting, it's not wonder my hair is turning grey. Next thing to look forward to Halitosis!
Mary/PA - Cindy, I think that I'd try to find a way to get them to feel excited about something (school related) Find them doing something good and praise it. Try to start a fire under them without mentioning their negative behavior.
Mary/PA - But if that dosn't work, then I would have to sit them down and have a heart to heart
Michelle - John, there's a great book by Judy Logan and another woman about that subject. It is terrific!
Kristie - What do you do when you've signed your contract and you're dreading returning?
Cindy - I think I may try the heart to heart first, give it a chance, then if nothing improves, I think I owe it to the children to then talk to the supervisor.
Michelle - Kristie, dreadful. I just received my contract, thankfully, they made a $20K error in my favor. I have another week to make up my mind.
Kristie - I am feeling anxious already and I don't know what to do :(
Angel33 - 20K-and You have to wait a week?
Kat - Hi Ruth. Kristie, what do you want to do?
Michelle - I read about a book by Wayne Muller "How, Then, Shall We Live? Four Simple Questions that reveal the beauty and meaing of our lives" It's about choices and life. I think I would like to become more inspirational and renewed. HOW?
Kristie - Quite honestly, go back to school and have my own business.
Michelle - What kind of business Kristie?
Kat - then that's your answer
Angel33 - I've been out of the classroom for ten years and all I need to do right now is look into those little eyes and I feel totally renewed and inspired. Am i too far in the clouds?
Kat - no, Angel... you're lucky
Angel33 - but for how long?
Kristie - I keep getting switched around.
Michelle - You're lucky Angel. Imagine Kristie that you have one life to live and you do, what would you do?
Michelle - Angel, are you returning?
Kristie - Probably go back to school and have my own business.
Michelle - Life's too short...go back to school.
Mary/PA - Kristie, what business?
Kat - You've got to do what makes you happy, what fulfills you.
Michelle - Ruth Ann, what brings to you to this subject?
Kristie - My own school supply or a learning center. Something I can run myself without alot of administrative problems.
Angel33 - Yes! but I was in Special ed before and now it's just regular old first grade. Kristie, If you're not enjoying it then the students won't enjoy it either.
Ruth Ann - I'm not sure. Is this about burn out?
Kat - yes
Kristie - I wanted regular ed, but my principal wanted me to do an inclusion setting.
Michelle - Yes, Ruth Ann. Are you feeling it?
Zana - angel did you enjoy spec.ed
Kat - hi Zana
Mary/PA - Oh, thanks, That sounds good. Do you have any business training or knowledge?
Mary/PA - I sure don't
Michelle - What about you Kat? Where do you notice it most?
Ruth Ann - No, not yet anyway. I've been teaching 16 years and still love it! Go figure!
Kristie - No, unfortunately I don't have enough training to run a business. Guess it is wishful thinking.
Angel33 - Yes! But my degree is regualr ed. I just worked in a special school in Hawaii and worked for a year as a special ed. teacher, then had a kid
Mary/PA - Kristie, I know that it can be very difficult to get a change in positions
Mary/PA - But, you have to keep trying if you realy want it
Zana - i've been a reg ed (1st) for 6 years, thinking of switching
Michelle - Kristie, teaching is all about managing, economics, supervising, taking charge...you have it!
Kristie - What would you switch to?
Kat - Michelle, as a student I had a radar for it. I always knew I would teach, so I knew a lot of teachers really well. They vented to me about burn out, administration issues, etc. I never want to reach burnout, nor let the beauracracy win.
Maddy - Hi Zana, why switch?
Zana - spec.ed
Mary/PA - Kristie, is there a community college close by where you could take a business clas or two to find out if you think you could do it?
Zana - opportunity knocks i guess
Michelle - Kat, what keeps you motivated?
Angel33 - Kristie, with a couple of community ed courses, you could do your own business. You're obviously a very intelligent person and could handle it fine. Go for it!
Mary/PA - Or a friend in business who could mentor you?
Ruth Ann - The only real problem I've had is pay. I'm in Missouri and we work almost for free.
Kristie - Yes there is one around here.
Kat - That I know teaching is my joy, my life's mission... I would not be thoroughly happy doing anything else.
Zana - ditto Kat
Michelle - Ruth Ann, yeah, it's one thing to be appreaciated, but it's another to actually see it?
Kristie - I would love to do it but I feel that this is going to be a busy year for me.
Michelle - Oh Kat & Zana, how to reach your nirvana?
Kat - Kristie, you could run a SCORE! Learning Center... it's a great combination of business & education
Maddy - Kat, I agree, I love teaching, I don't want to do anything else....but I keep being asked to do lots of other things too.
Kat - Great to hear it, Zana
Kristie - Where would I find out more about SCORE?
Angel33 - Do the courses by distance learning or in the summer. Prepare yourself and dive in!
Zana - and I've been teaching in a parochial school, 40 students each year
Ruth Ann - Michelle- Our district lost 40 teachers due to pay this year and the public just doesn't see it as a problem.
Mary/PA - Maddy, being asked or being required?
Michelle - Maddy, I just keep being offered teaching jobs...here there and everywhere. (Memo to self...play lottery)
Angel33 - What is a SCORE! learning center?
Kat - I've had family demands to "apply that brain" in law, but who cares when you know what you want?
Kat - Kristie... you can go to www.escore.com
Maddy - Mary/PA being required :(
Kat - OK, Angel, everybody, here's my schpiel:
Mary/PA - I know that there are many times when I am asked, and I say yes, I'm vowing to say NO more this next year
Kristie - Ruth Ann, where do you teach?
dee - Hi Kristie and everyone!! Schools out....my last day with kids was yesterday. One more day to go..
Mary/PA - Maddy, that's a tough one, can't say no the requirements
Ruth Ann - I teach in Richmond, Missouri. We are just northeast or Kansas City.
Mary/PA - Are ther others in the same situation?
Maddy - Dee, hi, your district must hold the record, we finished on the 26th.
Kat - SCORE! is a great place to learn. We help kids build spelling, math, reading, and other academic areas, and we also build confidence, self-esteem, excellent role-model relationships, and a love of learning."
Mary/PA - If you got together with them could you all work somthing out?
Michelle - Kat, that's incredible. I admire good teachers and that includes attitude.
Kat - http://www1.kaplan.com/score/view/area/1,2288,690,00.html
Ruth Ann - Gosh, we've been done for 5 weeks and have already finished 4 weeks of summer school.
dee - Mary/PA...I suffer from yesitis as well. I had someone say no to me in a very nice way..."I would really like to but I can't. I appreciate you considering me." I tried saying that once and it actually worked.
Kristie - I think that keeping a journal just for teaching.
Michelle - Ruth Ann, that's depressing. I am just shocked at how poorly teachers are paid. We are SO necessary.
Kat - I work at one in MD, and they're starting in the south soon. I'm almost positive they are in the Midwest.
dee - Ruth Ann..where do you teach? I'm in Ontario. When do you go back?
Mary/PA - dee, that's what I'll be doing
Kat - you're welcome
Kristie - If we are so necessary, why is it that sports figures make more than we do?
Kat - good point, Kristie!
Mary/PA - I actually warned everyone that I'd be less available for favors next year
Ruth Ann - Michelle- They know that good teachers love what they do, so we must be willing to do it for low pay, right?
dee - Mary/PA I think it made both of us feel okay.
Kat - pretty much, Ruth ANn
Michelle - Kristie, search the web. Bright Horizons is another place, a coporate subsidized school. There must be others.
Ruth Ann - dee- I'm near Kansas City, Mo. We start back around August 20.
dee - Ruth Ann...we go back Sept. 5 here in Ont.
Maddy - Kristie, there are Sylvan Learning centers, sounds similar to SCORE
Kat - Yeah, Sylvan is around too... SCORE is a much higher-energy concept.
Kristie - Can one open a Sylvan Learning center?
Maddy - Kristie, don't know
Mary/PA - Well, time for me to go, my attention span has been spent :o) Good night and I wish you all the best of luck
Maddy - So, back to the original question, what do you do in the day to day to keep yourself fresh (unBurned OUt?)
Red - I know someone who has two student teachers a year. She says she does it to keep herself fresh. She says that if she can't explain what she does, and why she does it that way (other than "because I've done it like that for thity years") than something must be wrong.
teach3tx - I'm trying a new school this year to see if it prevents me from burnout
Karen - I try to reseach 1 new area a year and implement it.
Maddy - Karen, for instance?
Karen - This year I'm focusing on Four Blocks Literacy. My district has been stuck doing Spalding Reading for a few years. I have not enjoyed it.
Kristie - I wish that we had a web site just for helping and preventing burnout for teachers?
Maddy - Karen, great idea, do you have the leeway to just start something you want?
dee - Karen ...what is Spalding reading?
Maddy - teach3tx, great idea, change is good!
Red - Karen... What is Four Blocks Literacy?
teach3tx - that is one thing I like about my district is that you can pretty much teach the way you want as long as you cover the texas TEKS for your grade level.
Kristie - I also hope that a new school will help me from burning out.
Karen - dee, its a program from 1928. Very militaristic. Kill drill.
dee - Karen...I've never heard of it. Sounds like it's time to change...1928!!!
Maddy - I love four Blocks, check out the site on Teachers.net
Kristie - Karen, can it still be used today?
teach3tx - okay so one thing my district does not like is kill and drill, and i'm glad because I get bored teaching that way
Karen - Red, Four Block consists of silent reading, Guided reading, Phonics, writers workshop. Very Balanced.
Kristie - Well, I think it is good that something like this can still be used.
teach3tx - That must be what we call our balanced literacy program we've been working on for a few years, I just now starting hearing it called four blocks
Karen - Spalding was introduced by a first year teacher. Then they wanted everyone to do it, even old teachers like me.
Kristie - I am starting to become a little anxious again.
Maddy - wasn't spalding meant for severely Reading Disabled/Delayed?
Maddy - Kristie what's making you anxious?
teach3tx - what are you anxious about Kristie?
Karen - Spalding is a large company now. Mrs. Spalding is dead, but someone is still making a lot of money. Our disctict has spent $1,000,0000 to date.
Kristie - Feeling like I am going to mess up again this year.
teach3tx - What do you mean by messing up?
Maddy - Kristie, what are you teaching this year? Can we help?
Red - Kirstie, In what way???
Kristie - Just letting my stress get the better of what I want to do.
Karen - Kristie, what do your want to do?
Kristie - I am going to be teaching special ed resource math and language arts to 7 & 8 th graders and I have never done this before.
Maddy - Are you making it through the day, and then collapsing a night because you're doing it all? Or are you losing it during the day?
Kat - What are you familiar teaching, Kristie?
Kristie - I would really like to do something else. I made my concerns known to the superintendent and it didn't work.
teach3tx - Kristie I always have to tell myself that I am doing the best I can and that I am not these childrens parents and that a teacher is not responsible for the majority of a child's learning their parents are.
Maddy - What is your background, any Special Ed? Selfcontained
Red - What do you usually teach?
Kristie - I am most familiar with teaching special ed to primary resource.
Kristie - My background is elementary/special ed with an emphasis in Learning disabilities.
Maddy - Will this be push in or pullout?
Kristie - I think it will be pull out, but I don't know for sure yet.
Red - You'll be okay. If I can teach special ed, having never taught before, and not even being certified in Spec Ed., than you can do it! :)
Maddy - Really, either way you will serve much like a remedial teacher for much of the year. Except during testing situations, where you will have to wear many hats, scribe, reader, proctor, etc.
Kristie - I have taught before, just not at this level.
Red - Kristie, that's what I'm saying, you can do it. How is your school in terms of support?
DeeDee - Red, why were you assigned to teach special ed.
Maddy - The biggest problem at this level, when it is pull out is to get the kids to show up?!
Kristie - My old school was pretty good support wise.
Kristie - How do I get through that they will need to be here?
Red - I applied to. For the summer program, certification requirements are a little different. I'm thrilled to be teaching. (this is my first job)
DeeDee - Maddy, are your teachers' uncooperative about sending students, or do the students not want to come
Red - Kristie, so this is a new school?
Kristie - No, not really just a brand new assignment for me.
Maddy - Students don't want to come, don't want to be different, go to a different place for learning.
Kat - Well, best of luck to all of you. 'Night.
Maddy - Night all
