Posted by Blossom on 10/12/08

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.
I am a first grade teacher. This is my 21st year of
teaching, 15 of which I spent in Tennessee.
Since I have been teaching in Alabama, I have experienced
more stress than ever! Normally I am not a stress-out type
of person! I am an optimist and have always believed my
hands on & fun approach to teaching to be effective.
This year, being my 6th year in the state of Alabama, I
almost have a fear of going to school each day!
We have adopted a new reading series this year (Storytown
by Harcourt Brace) and are teaching AMSTI Science & Math
for the first year. Not only are we teaching AMSTI Math
but we are expected to teach our recently adopted math
series (Harcourt Brace) as well so that the students can
experience pen & paper work in preparation for the SAT.
It's not the curriculum that is so scarey and
stressful...it's the OBSESSION with TIME & DETAIL that is
wearing on and pressuring all of our teachers!
For some reason...that I can't seem to figure out...the
principal & reading coaches are OBSESSED with the time
that we are taking to teach each element of the new
reading series. They meet with us constantly taking away
much of the time needed to prepare for all of the
activities that are expected from the reading, science &
math. They meet with us demanding times of how long it is
taking to teach what!!! Giving us suggestions after
suggestions on how to teach it faster so that we GET IT
ALL IN!!!!
It's not about quality & fun anymore!!!
It's an obsession with making sure these students GET IT
ALL!!!!
We have to stick to a specific timed schedule that begins
when the students arrive at 7:50! No time to greet
students to hear what they need to tell you or to call the
roll! If we don't begin reading at 8:15 promptly we are
considered not being on track with what is expected!
Teachers that have been teaching 20 & 25 years are running
around trying to meet all these impossible expectations
like it was their first year to teach! Most of whom are
planning to retire as soon as possilbe due to the stress
load and expectations that set us up to FAIL because it is
simply not possible to do it all in the TIMELY manner that
they expect! Fearing a walk-through is something that we
live with daily!!! Why is this??? Why are we constantly
threatened by this ridiulous WALK THROUGHS!!! No other
profession is under such scrutiny!!!
I find myself loosing who I have always been as a teacher.
I constantly battle with why...why is it like this??? What
is the purpose???
Why has recess been taken away??? These children need to
run & play and grow as only they can socially when have
some freedom.
My students keep asking WHY first graders don't get to go
outside & play. Why is the $35,0000 new playground empty?
Is all of this worth it??? Occasionally I will walk my
students on the outer skirts of the playground after
lunch. Oh how this little walk thrills them. They will run
to the swings or the bars and I will have to say, "get off
the equipment!" As I walk...in the back of my mind I am
hoping that someone...whoever they are...is not waiting in
my room wondering WHY I am not already teaching STRATEGIC
INTERVENTION. Whenever I do something like playdough, art
etc...I am always wondering is someone will walk in my
room to see if I am ON THEIR TRACK!!! If I am teaching
what they believe I am suppose to be teaching.
We recently had a fabulous motivational speaker come to
our school. We stood before these sour faces sharing ideas
of how to take care of ourselves & how to reach those hard
to reach students. How discouraging to know that we
couldn't take any of his great advise...for there is
simply NO TIME to slow down and reach these students who
so desperately cry out to be loved and listened to.
My question is this...
Is what I am experiencing at my school...the norm?
I know one thing...it all goes against every fiber of my
being and I know one thing for sure...It is cheating my
students out of all the lifelong lessons that come along
with a positive, enthusiastic, teacher!
Thank you for listening & I look forward to your respones!
Sincerely!

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