Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out

Posted by william Buonora on 1/09/06

More | Report Post

On 11/12/05, norqdo wrote:
> On 9/22/05, Ann wrote:
>> I have wanted to teach for as long as I can remember. I'm
>> in my 5th week of my first year, and I feel very
>> discouraged. I want to be one of the one's that makes it,
>> but I feel so overwhelmed. Is this normal? Any advice?
>> I'm working until after 5 everyday, and I come out to
> school
>> on the weekends, and I'm still barely getting by. The 1st
>> grade class that I have is composed of many troubled kids,
>> and I feel like I can't do it sometimes. Please tell me
>> there is hope because I do want to touch these children's
>> lives in a positive way.

Do not quit until you have at least two years under your
belt. The first two years are years of tremendous learning
and experimentation. Once this under your belt things get
much easier. Lessons are already planned and all the time you
spent in the last year preparing is paying off. Keep a
professional journal describing which gave difficulty and how
you solved it or didn't. Bond, even anonomously with an
experienced teacher to discuss ideas and strategies. See a
therapist to deal with the emotional barriers that create a
feeling of overwhelm. They include perfectionism, hide
feelings of inadeqaucies. With stress management techniques,
define exactly where your stresses come. Are you physically
in shape, sleep well, well prepared, handle discipline well,
can you anticipate problems,etc? Where are ways you can cut
down on paper work, time? What do you mean by " can't do it
at times?" BE specific in what the problem is, then you can
move to solve it.

good luck, william buonora adj. prof. of education

Posts on this thread, including this one

• 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 9/22/05, by Ann.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 9/28/05, by Karen Ludke.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 11/12/05, by norqdo.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 11/17/05, by vitali.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 1/09/06, by william Buonora.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 11/18/06, by Kelly.
• Re: 1st year teacher feeling burnt-out, 10/25/07, by mary simon.