Comments on: The Honeymoon Is Over: What Killed My First Teaching Job And 7 Tips For Getting Your Next Job http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jenniferhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-6534 Jennifer Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:45:20 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-6534 I find myself in a similar situation. I am entering my second year of teaching, and sill do not have a handle on managing my classroom. There is a big push for my school to achieve a certain standard on the state test, and my students have not been performing well. I have been placed on an intervention plan, and my contract is not likely to be renewed next year. I loved my student teaching, and want to be able to make it in this profession. This article really helped! I find myself in a similar situation. I am entering my second year of teaching, and sill do not have a handle on managing my classroom. There is a big push for my school to achieve a certain standard on the state test, and my students have not been performing well. I have been placed on an intervention plan, and my contract is not likely to be renewed next year. I loved my student teaching, and want to be able to make it in this profession. This article really helped!

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Dawnhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-6320 Dawn Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:40:44 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-6320 OK, so I quit my teaching job of 10 years to go into sales and marketing. Well, Sept 3rd, I was laid off of my Marketing Director position. Now where do I go? What are alternative jobs for people with a teaching degree but very little experience in other areas? OK, so I quit my teaching job of 10 years to go into sales and marketing. Well, Sept 3rd, I was laid off of my Marketing Director position. Now where do I go? What are alternative jobs for people with a teaching degree but very little experience in other areas?

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Juliethttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-6282 Juliet Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:34:46 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-6282 I really feel bad when old fart teachers rip on new teachers. I truly feel they don't understand the ADD population we now serve. I quit the teaching profession because of these "know it alls" that have an answer for everything. If you have a degree and a teaching credential, other teachers should shut their annoying traps. I really feel bad when old fart teachers rip on new teachers. I truly feel they don’t understand the ADD population we now serve.

I quit the teaching profession because of these “know it alls” that have an answer for everything. If you have a degree and a teaching credential, other teachers should shut their annoying traps.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: might be your coworkerhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-6063 might be your coworker Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:21:43 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-6063 At a training yesterday, I learned that there is a manual you are supposed to give to people new to the district so they can easily figure out where online to go to learn about things like how to use the gradebook, how to use the online TAKS score evaluation system, and how to reserve books from the district library online (and much more). I laughed quietly to myself because I was new to the district last year, (and new to teaching in public schools full time) and no one showed me or told me about this book at the beginning of the year. It was near the end of the year when I had an elementary support specialist working with me that I finally learned how to use all of those district computer programs. I am supposed to start back to work to this same place in two days. At a training yesterday, I learned that there is a manual you are supposed to give to people new to the district so they can easily figure out where online to go to learn about things like how to use the gradebook, how to use the online TAKS score evaluation system, and how to reserve books from the district library online (and much more).
I laughed quietly to myself because I was new to the district last year, (and new to teaching in public schools full time) and no one showed me or told me about this book at the beginning of the year. It was near the end of the year when I had an elementary support specialist working with me that I finally learned how to use all of those district computer programs.

I am supposed to start back to work to this same place in two days.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: marie galhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-4840 marie gal Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:27:24 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-4840 How about this? After teaching for almost 18 years...I am LEAVING! First, I am accused of feeding students the answers to a test....the principal accused me this and never checked it out! I believe that two students stole a copy of the test out of my desk. Instead...I was written up! I had never had any negative written in my reviews at all! Next, I am being harassed by not only this jerk, but also his assistant and the dean of students. Anything and everything they can think up...they do. I am stopped at least 3 times a week to "speak" to them about something. Silly things such as a kid who had a scratch that is two days old...but wanted a bandaid. (IE.to go to the nurse...and get out of class. yes, I do let kids leave for real reasons. Again and again this happens! I feel like this is discrimination...but the union thinks that is just a clash of personalities. With three people? I have never had a problem with any administrator! Why now? I am at a different school in our district and all these individuals are new to the district! Yes, I know it sounds insane...but its true! I have made out a report to EEOC...but it takes forever for them to get anything done...so I am getting panic attacks everytime one of them comes near my room and am nerve medicene. Its a nightmare! Previous to this...I loved teaching and have received "Excellents" on my reviews! How about this? After teaching for almost 18 years…I am LEAVING! First, I am accused of feeding students the answers to a test….the principal accused me this and never checked it out! I believe that two students stole a copy of the test out of my desk. Instead…I was written up! I had never had any negative written in my reviews at all!
Next, I am being harassed by not only this jerk, but also his assistant and the dean of students. Anything and everything they can think up…they do. I am stopped at least 3 times a week to “speak” to them about something. Silly things such as a kid who had a scratch that is two days old…but wanted a bandaid. (IE.to go to the nurse…and get out of class. yes, I do let kids leave for real reasons. Again and again this happens! I feel like this is discrimination…but the union thinks that is just a clash of personalities. With three people? I have never had a problem with any administrator! Why now? I am at a different school in our district and all these individuals are new to the district!
Yes, I know it sounds insane…but its true! I have made out a report to EEOC…but it takes forever for them to get anything done…so I am getting panic attacks everytime one of them comes near my room and am nerve medicene. Its a nightmare! Previous to this…I loved teaching and have received “Excellents” on my reviews!

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-2207 Joel Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:06:50 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-2207 <a href='#comment-1924' rel="nofollow">@Waski_the_Squirrel</a> - You are totally on target there. What are some proactive solutions that districts could come up with that realistically address this situation? My district had a mentoring program this year (presumably provided by grant money) that paired newer teachers with more experienced ones. They had regular meetings and some staff development days. Additionally, they had a few days where they would walk into various classrooms with administrators to see what was going on. Wouldn't it be great if ever district had initiatives similar to that? @Waski_the_Squirrel – You are totally on target there. What are some proactive solutions that districts could come up with that realistically address this situation?

My district had a mentoring program this year (presumably provided by grant money) that paired newer teachers with more experienced ones. They had regular meetings and some staff development days. Additionally, they had a few days where they would walk into various classrooms with administrators to see what was going on.

Wouldn’t it be great if ever district had initiatives similar to that?

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-2206 Joel Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:03:10 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-2206 <a href='#comment-1918' rel="nofollow">@Barbara Rice DeShong, Ph.D.</a> - Absolutely. You are more than welcome to take whatever you want from me. That'd be great! If you want to contact me privately through email, I can give you some more specifics... @Barbara Rice DeShong, Ph.D. – Absolutely. You are more than welcome to take whatever you want from me. That’d be great! If you want to contact me privately through email, I can give you some more specifics…

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Jonathanhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-1926 Jonathan Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:50:01 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-1926 Tough story. Did you have trouble landing a new job? Tough story. Did you have trouble landing a new job?

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Ms. Longhornhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-1925 Ms. Longhorn Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:50:49 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-1925 Great advice! I will definitely be using it if I ever need to! :) Great advice! I will definitely be using it if I ever need to! :)

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]> By: Waski_the_Squirrelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/the-honeymoon-is-over-what-killed-my-first-job-and-7-tips-for-getting-your-next-job/#comment-1924 Waski_the_Squirrel Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:05:51 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/?p=402#comment-1924 It would have been good for me if something like this had happened early in my career. Instead, I had to discover through trial and error over many years what did and didn't work. Worse, I head to learn not to accept poor behavior. As you noted, it is easy to allow misbehavior and blame it on the kids. There is something to having outside observers. The principal could do this and perhaps it should be part of the career path for teachers. After one semester of student teaching, the teacher may be ready to step into a classroom, but that teacher still requires a lot of guidance and advice. Too many leave the field because they are not getting this support. It would have been good for me if something like this had happened early in my career. Instead, I had to discover through trial and error over many years what did and didn’t work.

Worse, I head to learn not to accept poor behavior. As you noted, it is easy to allow misbehavior and blame it on the kids.

There is something to having outside observers. The principal could do this and perhaps it should be part of the career path for teachers. After one semester of student teaching, the teacher may be ready to step into a classroom, but that teacher still requires a lot of guidance and advice. Too many leave the field because they are not getting this support.

Flag this comment as inappropriate

]]>