renaissancewoman101 Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 I am sick of school and not sure if I really want to finish out my MAT degree. I started this whole thing in 2002 when I was still living in Wisconsin. Went to school part-time but never finished out the degree because of some health issues. I moved out to CA last year and started working on the degree again in the Fall. I love the school I go to. It's a nice school and the classes are agreeable, but I am losing the impetus to finish. It isn't as though I have other things that stress me out like a job or stuff. I mostly have school and my clinicals. I dont know what I want to do. I like school but the clinicals are getting to me. The third graders drive me nuts and they aren't well behaved or anything close to that. It's warm outside and I am sitting in the school library because I called off going to my clinicals today. I can't stand dealing with the third graders, half of them who are my height and look at me strangely like I am some alien kid life form. I am not sure what I want to do. I need to finish out this degree, otherwise, I am a failure at what I started. And it isnt a tough degree either. I've done a lot of this work before when I was in Wisconsin. I had to repeat a few things because some classes didnt transfer. Tuition is expensive and I feel like I get nothing from it anymore. What should I do?
Beec Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 RW, keep plugging, keep at it. Get it done. You'll be proud of you when you perservere.
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Posted February 5, 2007 Yeah, how long is it gonna take, another year or so. Ugh! And the kids are starting to make me mental. I actually fear going to deal with the third graders.
rocio Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 You're not failing if you decide to take another route in life. But have you thought it through? What would you do instead? Wouldn't it be more work in the end if you took a different path?
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Posted February 5, 2007 I'm not sure what I want to do right now. I may just quit and go back to doing what I used to do as a full-time job, being a tech writer. I was a tech writer for an engineering firm for 7 years until I moved out here. It was a good job that paid pretty decent and I was ok with it. Change is good, but sometime change causes burnout.
luvursmile Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 Well, if youre really unhappy & you cant stand the kiddies....then I'd say go back to doing what you like....you have to sort of enjoy what you do....we spend most of our lives at work!
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Posted February 5, 2007 I am not sure what I want right now. I just dunno. I am going out for a walk.
Locke2121 Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 Don't give up, getting that degree is one of the greatest feelings in the world!
rocio Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 Don't give up, getting that degree is one of the greatest feelings in the world! Yeah. Even if you don't end up using it directly, just having it will get you further in your career - whatever career you take. And it also makes you feel real good about yourself.
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 5, 2007 Author Posted February 5, 2007 I already HAVE a degree. I have a BA in English and History, never really USED the degrees. What I did as a tech writer, I basically learned ON the job. I am not sure what I like better, working with inanimate things, or kids who look at me like I am one of them since I am no taller than a lot of them.
dopexile Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 School is just busy work... but you need to rough through it. I personally dropped out of high school... but I never had any intention of not going to school and finished my bachelors this summer. If you only have a year to go you've come too far to just quit honestly... rough it out and hang in there. College is really just a test to see if you can accomplish a goal in over the long haul.
anggrace Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 I think you should stick it out. All this your having to go through will make it more rewarding in the end. You can do it!!!!!
Dako Posted February 5, 2007 Posted February 5, 2007 Hang in there, Ren. You never know what the future my bring, and that degree might be just the tool to get there. If you quit, you'll regret not finishing. You can always hit the kids when nobody's around. jk
TallyM Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 In Australia there is some huge % statistic that the degree students graduate from is not the degree that they started, Its so common here for people to change courses mid way through. I did. I was more the better for it.
annie24 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 What made you want to be a teacher? Now might be a good time to revist why you want to do this, to reinspire yourself. What level do you see yourself working with (obviously not the 3rd grade). Students always make fun of the teachers, so I think this is something you have to work on, toughening up. Kids can smell fear and they feed off of it. Remember who is the boss! you are! Don't let what they say get you down, be confident and authoritative. This is an important less you will need to deal with, no matter what you choose to do.
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 6, 2007 Author Posted February 6, 2007 Thanks for your votes of confidence. I am going to preservere and finish. I just feel burnt out right now. I went out for a bit and it's so nice out, but I just feel worn out. I guess I woke up too early today and all that. Maybe I am feeling this way because I havent been working in a long time and I miss that too. School is great and takes up a lot of time, but it doesnt bring in a lot of money. I always enjoyed working with kids and both my parents are/were in the education field. My mom used to be a grade school teacher in Hong Kong and my dad is a college professor. I like kids and when I teach them and watch their eyes light up, it is one of the best things ever.
Locke2121 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 I was really burned out as I finished my last semester with my B.P.S.! I've taken a couple of months off and am now stoked by the offers that the state are sending me. You'll get back up to speed!
Batya33 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 when I taught elementary school many years ago the most important thing I had to learn - that I was not taught in college course on elementary education - was how to effectively discipline. I was teaching 5th grade for awhile and they were out of control. A family friend, a teacher for several decades, told me to read "assertive discipline" by lee cantor (spelling?) and to implement his discipline program. I read it over winter break and when we returned to school I spent an entire day with the children discussing this new program and how things were going to be done from that day forward. It did not entirely solve the problem but the change was dramatic and noticed by the teachers and administration. Yes, children can be brats and out of control. Some of that is not in your control. So much of it is. I substitute taught in the inner city - sometimes had 50 children in one classroom with no lesson plans left for me - but once I learned how to discipline - it wasn't too difficult. No, I did not yell - that would be them seeing me lose control - rather from the second they met me they knew who was boss and I stopped that silly mindset of wanting this kids to like me. Like is warm and fuzzy but kids need to respect you if they're going to learn, even if they don't like you. You have to give up that need for approval - which I bet you have - like I did - and realize that your job is to provide a safe and structured environment for them to learn. That might mean that they don't much like you - but they will respect you most of the time. As far as whether teaching is for you - I don't know - but please don't give it up based on your lack of effective disciplining techniques. And, I think it's time to do a pro/con list concerning staying in school because I am concerned that if you quit, you will reinforce the negative images of yourself - even if that is not rational.
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 6, 2007 Author Posted February 6, 2007 I've never been good with keeping discipline in a class or with kids. Maybe it is because I have a timid personality. I worry about the time when I actually have to teach a class on my own and keep discipline. One of my low points in my evaluation from the kindergarten teacher was that I needed to apply discipline skills better in the classroom.
annie24 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 I've never been good with keeping discipline in a class or with kids. Maybe it is because I have a timid personality. I worry about the time when I actually have to teach a class on my own and keep discipline. One of my low points in my evaluation from the kindergarten teacher was that I needed to apply discipline skills better in the classroom. I had a conversation about a similar topic with someone recently. He pointed out an example of a girl who was having problems at school, so she transferred to another school, and had problems there too, so she dropped out. His point was that maybe there was something that she just needed to confront about herself, to work on, and it doesn't matter where she went to school, she needed to work on herself. As for your personality, even if you dropped out of school, your timidness and lack of discipline skills can possibly cause problems in whatever other career you go into. No matter what field you go into, you have to carry yourself as an authority in your field. I hope it makes sense what I am saying. I think you should maybe try to stick it out at school, and do read up on how to take charge in the classroom. This is a skill that will serve you the rest of your life. Talk to other older teachers and ask how they got over their issues. I am sure that that is a very common situation - not knowing how to take control of the classroom. people don't want to discipline other peoples' children, so I bet yours is a common problem. what are some positive steps you can take towards improving your confidence in the classroom?
Batya33 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 I've never been good with keeping discipline in a class or with kids. Maybe it is because I have a timid personality. I worry about the time when I actually have to teach a class on my own and keep discipline. One of my low points in my evaluation from the kindergarten teacher was that I needed to apply discipline skills better in the classroom. I think it would be a wonderful way for you to work on becoming more assertive overall - this could be a specific goal and I am sure if you become more assertive in the classroom it will benefit you in other areas too. I do not think someone can be an effective elementary school teacher without effective discipline - it doesn't matter how smart you are or how loving you are. Are you up to the challenge?
renaissancewoman101 Posted February 6, 2007 Author Posted February 6, 2007 I am up to the challenge. I just was ranting today because I felt burnt out and felt like I have been on this road for a long time. Last week with overhearing some third graders making fun of me, that hurt a bit. I just need to develop a thick skin when it comes to criticism and learn to deal with things and to stand up for myself. I think the kids pick up on my timidity and make use of it to their own advantage.
Batya33 Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 Yes, kids pick up on timidity because they deserve to have an adult who is in control and can take charge - they need structure and safety. Timidity makes them feel unsafe. You need to act "as if" and not just passively accept that you are a "timid" person. You can change that, if you want to so that the "as if" eventually becomes "you."
rocio Posted February 6, 2007 Posted February 6, 2007 I already HAVE a degree. I have a BA in English and History, never really USED the degrees. What I did as a tech writer, I basically learned ON the job. Wow, you are really edumacated! I wonder if you could find some classes or workshops on being more assertive.
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