I'm wondering what everyone is most most worried about in terms of teaching, and what they are thinking about in terms of addressing these issues. Less than a month into the program, I'm becoming aware of so many issues I'd never even really considered before. At times it seems overwhelming to think about everything all at once.
For myself, I worry that classroom management will overtake most of my focus. (Hopefully) none of us want to be that teacher who reads from the text and makes everyone sit in quiet rows all day, or the teacher that loses complete control of the class and cannot gain back any respect. I think finding a balance can be tough.
I was just wondering if anyone else is inwardly freaking out just a bit and wouldn't mind sharing...
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TIME scares me! Social Studies (History) is my minor concentration. But I was only required to take two Canadian history courses, and I did those last summer. And one of those was a no-brainer - basically we watched cowboy movies all semester. Now I hardly remember anything, but I don't want to teach "from the textbook." Not only is that boring, but I've frequently come across blatant falsehoods or misconceptions or biases in high school (and other) texts. Where the heck am I going to get the time to prepare for class plus learn the material plus work summer jobs?
Also, there are the classic classroom management worries. What if they don't respect me? What if they are violent and miserable?
Or parents. What if someone doesn't want their kid studying Shakespeare because it's too bawdy? (believe me, I've heard of this before!)
Or sleeping through my alarm clock and not getting to class on time.
Or having no life because all I do is teach and mark.
Pretty much everything.
Inwardly freaking out? At times it's not that inward. It doesn't help that I think that everyone seems so much more prepared than I am...
I worry about everything, what if the class is out of control? what if I'm so nervous I don't make any sense? What if my classes aren't as interesting as I think they are and the students dread coming to my class? How is the stress going to affect my teaching? My preparation? What if one day I just snap and have to go to a mental institution? Oh, my mind gets carried away...
hahaha... I'm laughing to deal with my awkwardness. Lots of "what if" questions, but it's nice to see everyone else expressing them! Good topic Maxine!
I think my greatest fear is how I'm going to make a connection between the class and my subject material for chemistry and math?
And (I'm assuming that efforts to make the subject material relevant and fun will be time consuming), how will I ever have a life once I'm in teaching?!!
As Sam put it to our little group today, that vice principal said it takes 10 years to really come into your own as a teacher, but 10 years is a lot of time to loose sleep!
The thing I am most afraid of, because this is what happened in my first career, is boredom! You go through the motions but you don't have the faith anymore. You don't think that you make a difference and your work life becomes this dull and boring endless journey... I just hope that being always confronted with overexcited teenagers will prevent that...
Good topic! I think it would be really funny/interesting to revisit it and 'update' it the night before the practicum. I bet I could come up with some good ones by then!
For now, although I am extremely excited about teaching, I definitely have a few worries racing around my head. One is that I will have a hard time gaining respect. I don't have much trouble being authoritative, but I also look like I am in high school. This may or may not work to my advantage...I am leaning towards the may not.
Another worry is that I will lose all my steam! I have spent enough time with students of all ages to not be naive about the challenges, but I just hope they don't wear me down to the point of frustration and meltdown!
I just keep thinking back to the new French teacher that my Grade 7 class brought to tears...and I didn't even think we were being difficult!
There are times where I have been sitting in class over the last week thinking....ok, am I in the right spot? Is this really what I want to be doing? Then, I remember that IT IS where I want to be and I will be good at it and enjoy it. It is like the angel and the devil speaking in each ear (it will be fine, it will suck and take ALL your time). I think when starting any profession, feelings of nervousness and anxiety are common. Plus, there are many things you can do with a teaching certificate besides formal high school classroom teaching. It is important to remember that it is not the BE ALL END ALL and if you decide it is not for you, well the experience will enrichen your life in some way, i am sure.
Actually, the thing that scares me the most is not knowing my subject well enough (I think I may have fogotten some concepts throughout my university). I worry that I will not be able to answer questions that the students have or be unprepared for some difficult science questions.
Other than that, classroom management worries me also. I hope to be able to handle a big classroom and really be able to be disciplined as well as understanding, compassionate and patient.
I love everyone's comments because I feel all of these anxieties!! I don't really have any fears about dealing with class room management but I do about preparation and organization. Being the ADD child that I am I struggle with this everyday...as some of you may have noticed. While I am passionate about my subject (History) I feel like I'll never be prepared enough to make an effective and engrossing class. The last thing I want to do is see kids falling asleep in my class because I am not presenting things in relevant and exciting ways.
It kind of scares me too. My concentration is social studies, and I have not taken Canadian History since my first year of university. A comforting fact that is that those history courses we took, for example, Russian and German history courses will never go to waste. Those skills we have learned, whatever the subject matter may be, have prepared us for teaching. I'm slowing learning that our teaching careers should never be concentrated about "content". Rather we should concentrate on how to communicate the basics to our students, because no matter how well-versed we are in our subject areas, that does not mean our students will be able to grasp the lessons. I hope this gives helps.
I have a lot of the same feelings that everyone seems to be feeling. I think the respect factor is the biggest for me though. If you have everyone's respect learning can be accomplished in the classroom. It is harder to handle tough situations if the kids don't respect you. I am back and forth on whether my age will help me gain their respect, but I guess all teachers had to start somewhere.
The three things that scare me the most about teaching are classroom management, the possibility of not having enough time to enjoy life outside of school and staying healthy.
Although I’ve taught elementary school before in Korea, I think I may have trouble controlling a classroom full of adolescence. I think back to how some of my friends and I were in high school and we could definitely be a pain in the behind. I think I’m not very strict and will have trouble keeping the class in order.
After today’s discussion on well being I’m scared that the first couple years of teaching I’m not going to have enough time for family, friends and relaxing. I have a lot of hobbies I do on a regular basis and I’m worried with preparation, marking and stressing out I may not be able to find time for the things I enjoy doing.
The last thing that scares me is that I’ll be sick the whole year. Last year when I was in Korea I managed to get sick almost every month. Although it hasn’t been as bad since I moved home last September, I fear being around a bunch of sick students every day that I’m going to have trouble staying healthy. Well at least we get 15 paid sick days!
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