Thinking about dropping out..

by ilteacher

Jan 24, 2010

I really need some advice. Or maybe I just need to type this out loud. I am entering week 4 of Student Teaching. It has been overwhelming, exhausting, interesting and more. It has not been horrible, even tho I feel lost most of the time and 99% of the time I am utterly unsure of myself. Mostly, what I have realized is that teaching will not be the 'saving grace' I thought it would be. It would be my 2nd career, and I thought that changing my path to teaching was exactly what I wanted. Now, after spending the last 3 weeks in a classroom - I am not sure I want to be a teacher. I feel like I have wasted my time by going back to school and spending a LOT of money to follow a career path that now I am not even sure I want. I do not want to become a teacher just "because". More than anything, I don't want to be a teacher just because it's what I studied, and not have the passion for it. Kids deserve more than that. So now what?? The humiliation of dropping out of my program is hard enough, b...See More

Comment

(11)

report post

view previous comments

Miss_Texas I forgot to tell you, it took me 12 1/2 long years to earn my BSIS because I was married to a military spouse. I graduated on a Friday, got my first teaching job that following Monday and started on 1st MS degree. I worked all day learning my teaching job, finished the 1st MS degree in 18 mos and started my 2nd one. This time as a single mom/workin...See More

Feb 4, 2010

report post

Cecy Saucedo I FEEL THE SAME WAY!! it was good to read everyone's advice...made me feel better eventhough it wasn't for me lol...i'm on my fifth week, on my first assignment...and i can't wait for week eight! I get home and feel so stressed out and overwhelemed that i start crying... i really do want to be a teacher but i've always liked primary grades and they...See MoreI FEEL THE SAME WAY!! it was good to read everyone's advice...made me feel better eventhough it wasn't for me lol...i'm on my fifth week, on my first assignment...and i can't wait for week eight! I get home and feel so stressed out and overwhelemed that i start crying... i really do want to be a teacher but i've always liked primary grades and they placed me in a 6th grade classroom..and my master teacher just gave me the books she is using and basically told me to take over with out telling me what material she has covered already and what needs to be taugh. I'm constantly wondering if im doing things right and feeling insecure. All i can really do is pray and keep reading advice from teachers and other student teachers who are going throught the same experience. :(

On 2/04/10, Miss_Texas wrote: > First let me commend you for having the guts to confess your > feelings! Next, let me tell you as an experienced teacher, now > school counselor that you came in at a tough time. Second > semester's always more difficult. I don't think anyone I know > felt 100% confident in their abilities as a teacher at the > point of student teaching. I remember I had student taught 1st > grade, so I thought that's all I could do, so I applied for > those jobs. I moved up from there to 6th grade and loved it! > Finding your niche and were you absolutely belong is key. Harry > Wong's book The First Days of School will give you tons of > invaluable information. I followed that to the "t" and had > excellent classroom management and was even asked to lead > workshops on it b/c in my entire career I only had 2 office > referrals because I based my classroom management on his > principles and it works! Next, make sure you're in the right > subject for you. I remember student teaching and being forced > to do math lessons, but I was an ELA person...and that was > totally out of my element. > I know you can do it. You've set a goal for yourself and come > this far! A pregnancy lasts nine months, so surely you can > stick out 9 tiny weeks of your life and at least see before > throwing all of your hard work away, right? > Please don't hesitate to contact me. I need to know how things > worked out for you! > In Texas, best of wishes!

Feb 24, 2010

report post

NC I so totally understand what you are going through. I am back and forth about quitting too, but I will not quit. I may never teach in a classroom but that is ok. I am so over these feelings about myself and my capabilities. I have busted out in tears to my CT, in front of my US. Still I feel totally unprepared. Should I go talk to my University? Pr...See MoreI so totally understand what you are going through. I am back and forth about quitting too, but I will not quit. I may never teach in a classroom but that is ok. I am so over these feelings about myself and my capabilities. I have busted out in tears to my CT, in front of my US. Still I feel totally unprepared. Should I go talk to my University? Probably not, even thought they say they are there for you, they aren't. Just keep going one day at a time. Try your best and know you are not alone in your feelings. I too am retired and went back to school. I also come from a family of educators. The only thing I keep envisioning is the end and graduation day. Remember you are not alone.

On 1/24/10, ilteacher wrote: > I really need some advice. Or maybe I just need to type > this out loud. I am entering week 4 of Student Teaching. It > has been overwhelming, exhausting, interesting and more. It > has not been horrible, even tho I feel lost most of the > time and 99% of the time I am utterly unsure of myself. > Mostly, what I have realized is that teaching will not be > the 'saving grace' I thought it would be. It would be my > 2nd career, and I thought that changing my path to teaching > was exactly what I wanted. Now, after spending the last 3 > weeks in a classroom - I am not sure I want to be a > teacher. I feel like I have wasted my time by going back to > school and spending a LOT of money to follow a career path > that now I am not even sure I want. I do not want to become > a teacher just "because". More than anything, I don't want > to be a teacher just because it's what I studied, and not > have the passion for it. Kids deserve more than that. So > now what?? The humiliation of dropping out of my program is > hard enough, but what career path can I take with a Masters > in Education but no certification? Part of me feels that I > should "pull up my boots" and finish my program, and get > certified even if I never use it. The other part thinks I > don't want to waste my time, and that of my Host Teacher > and her classroom of kids, and stay sick from the stress of > all of it for another 9 weeks. Any words of wisdom out > there?

Mar 4, 2010

report post

NC God, thing same thing here. I am an older student returning to school and feel as if this student teaching portion is going to drive me crazy. My CT did the same thing. I wanted K-3 and am in 5th. There was a reason I switched from middle grades back down to elementary. The kids are great, but coming in 2nd semester and not know the curriculum (how...See MoreGod, thing same thing here. I am an older student returning to school and feel as if this student teaching portion is going to drive me crazy. My CT did the same thing. I wanted K-3 and am in 5th. There was a reason I switched from middle grades back down to elementary. The kids are great, but coming in 2nd semester and not know the curriculum (how are you supposed to know all of that in one month or even two months. I am trying my hardest but it is never right. I never had to learn the things students do today, so between trying to understand what I am teaching and also writng lessons about stuff I don't know is overwhelming. I wish you luck.

On 2/24/10, Cecy Saucedo wrote: > I FEEL THE SAME WAY!! it was good to read everyone's > advice...made me feel better eventhough it wasn't for me > lol...i'm on my fifth week, on my first assignment...and i can't > wait for week eight! I get home and feel so stressed out and > overwhelemed that i start crying... i really do want to be a > teacher but i've always liked primary grades and they placed me > in a 6th grade classroom..and my master teacher just gave me the > books she is using and basically told me to take over with out > telling me what material she has covered already and what needs > to be taugh. I'm constantly wondering if im doing things right > and feeling insecure. All i can really do is pray and keep > reading advice from teachers and other student teachers who are > going throught the same experience. :( > > > On 2/04/10, Miss_Texas wrote: >> First let me commend you for having the guts to confess your >> feelings! Next, let me tell you as an experienced teacher, now >> school counselor that you came in at a tough time. Second >> semester's always more difficult. I don't think anyone I know >> felt 100% confident in their abilities as a teacher at the >> point of student teaching. I remember I had student taught 1st >> grade, so I thought that's all I could do, so I applied for >> those jobs. I moved up from there to 6th grade and loved it! >> Finding your niche and were you absolutely belong is key. Harry >> Wong's book The First Days of School will give you tons of >> invaluable information. I followed that to the "t" and had >> excellent classroom management and was even asked to lead >> workshops on it b/c in my entire career I only had 2 office >> referrals because I based my classroom management on his >> principles and it works! Next, make sure you're in the right >> subject for you. I remember student teaching and being forced >> to do math lessons, but I was an ELA person...and that was >> totally out of my element. >> I know you can do it. You've set a goal for yourself and come >> this far! A pregnancy lasts nine months, so surely you can >> stick out 9 tiny weeks of your life and at least see before >> throwing all of your hard work away, right? >> Please don't hesitate to contact me. I need to know how things >> worked out for you! >> In Texas, best of wishes!

Mar 4, 2010

report post

Mara I am currently in the same boat many of you were last year: experiencing a student teaching nightmare and contemplating dropping out after many years of work and much money spent on tuition. I was wondering if any of you still felt the same way about teaching? Was it different than student teaching?

Thank you!

On 3/04/10, NC wrote...See MoreI am currently in the same boat many of you were last year: experiencing a student teaching nightmare and contemplating dropping out after many years of work and much money spent on tuition. I was wondering if any of you still felt the same way about teaching? Was it different than student teaching?

Thank you!

On 3/04/10, NC wrote: > God, thing same thing here. I am an older student returning to > school and feel as if this student teaching portion is going to > drive me crazy. My CT did the same thing. I wanted K-3 and am in > 5th. There was a reason I switched from middle grades back down to > elementary. The kids are great, but coming in 2nd semester and not > know the curriculum (how are you supposed to know all of that in > one month or even two months. I am trying my hardest but it is > never right. I never had to learn the things students do today, so > between trying to understand what I am teaching and also writng > lessons about stuff I don't know is overwhelming. I wish you luck. > > On 2/24/10, Cecy Saucedo wrote: >> I FEEL THE SAME WAY!! it was good to read everyone's >> advice...made me feel better eventhough it wasn't for me >> lol...i'm on my fifth week, on my first assignment...and i can't >> wait for week eight! I get home and feel so stressed out and >> overwhelemed that i start crying... i really do want to be a >> teacher but i've always liked primary grades and they placed me >> in a 6th grade classroom..and my master teacher just gave me the >> books she is using and basically told me to take over with out >> telling me what material she has covered already and what needs >> to be taugh. I'm constantly wondering if im doing things right >> and feeling insecure. All i can really do is pray and keep >> reading advice from teachers and other student teachers who are >> going throught the same experience. :( >> >> >> On 2/04/10, Miss_Texas wrote: >>> First let me commend you for having the guts to confess your >>> feelings! Next, let me tell you as an experienced teacher, now >>> school counselor that you came in at a tough time. Second >>> semester's always more difficult. I don't think anyone I know >>> felt 100% confident in their abilities as a teacher at the >>> point of student teaching. I remember I had student taught 1st >>> grade, so I thought that's all I could do, so I applied for >>> those jobs. I moved up from there to 6th grade and loved it! >>> Finding your niche and were you absolutely belong is key. Harry >>> Wong's book The First Days of School will give you tons of >>> invaluable information. I followed that to the "t" and had >>> excellent classroom management and was even asked to lead >>> workshops on it b/c in my entire career I only had 2 office >>> referrals because I based my classroom management on his >>> principles and it works! Next, make sure you're in the right >>> subject for you. I remember student teaching and being forced >>> to do math lessons, but I was an ELA person...and that was >>> totally out of my element. >>> I know you can do it. You've set a goal for yourself and come >>> this far! A pregnancy lasts nine months, so surely you can >>> stick out 9 tiny weeks of your life and at least see before >>> throwing all of your hard work away, right? >>> Please don't hesitate to contact me. I need to know how things >>> worked out for you! >>> In Texas, best of wishes!

Feb 20, 2012

report post