Dear Teachers, Stop. Just stop. I can not take it anymore. I need you to stop what you are doing. First, it isn’t working. And it isn’t fair. It isn’t right. As a matter of fact, you are only making things worse for yourself and your class. As a mother, I have to intervene and tell you like it is…
What do you need to stop? Don’t worry. I will make it as easy for you as I can.
Stop. Just stop… Comparing yourself to others.
Let’s start with some truth. First, you are not your neighbor down the hall. You are not the same teacher as the one at that other school. That is because you are you. And we like you. You have an important role to play in your classroom, on your team, and in your school.
That other teacher may be stronger in math so ask her for tips or ideas. But remember you are a strong teacher in another area. Offer that teacher some writing strategies that could help her while you are there. Can you see how good it is to be different? All the students benefit from a mixture of teachers and their ideas.
You are not in competition with your peers.
You can support each other. Your school is only as strong as the weakest teacher. Uplifting each other lifts up the school. All teachers have different students with different needs. His class might walk down the hallway perfectly each and every time when your class might not. That doesn’t make anyone is better or worse. Your class might need more wiggle time before they can handle that straight line. They might need an extra verbal reminder.
You don’t have to be Perfect
Your hallway or door doesn’t always have to be decorated perfectly. That doesn’t make you a bad teacher, dear teachers. That makes you real. Perhaps you took time making new centers or activities for your class instead of doing the display outside the door. Good for you! I know that you managed your time to the best of your abilities. Or maybe you just ran out of time.
Ask before you buy
Stop. Just stop… spending your own money on your classroom needs.
I know sometimes it is easier to grab the exact item you need for your students when you need them. But, would you please ask for help, dear teachers? Send out requests in newsletters, remind text, and signup Genius allows me, the parent, to help.
Busy working moms and dads who can’t help out in the classroom don’t mind picking up an item or two when you need it because it may be the only way they can help your classroom. That art project, science experiment, cooking activity, and hands-on FUN are exactly why we love having you as a teacher. And we don’t mind being asked to help fund it.
How to Ask for Help
Have a running list of desired items that are big? Why not try using an Amazon Wish List? {Here is a glimpse of my own classroom wish list.} Others can give you Amazon gift cards to save up for the items. I promise we want you to have these FUN items too because my own kid LOVES it when you add something new and exciting to the classroom. And we don’t think you should have to spend your own money on them. If I want to get you a gift, I will know exactly where to look!
It Doesn’t Always Have to be Fun
Stop. Just stop… feeling badly worrying about NOT making it all fun.
I see how many times you make an activity fun and hands-on. You incorporate videos and music into your lessons regularly. Art projects get sent home all the time and are treasured decorations on our fridges. We know from the look on our child’s face every day that you make learning fun. But I also know that sometimes it can’t be fun. Sometimes they need to just do a worksheet, maybe even timed. Then, sometimes they need you to take away the fun because they expect it and forget that your extra efforts are what makes this class so much more fun!
Learn to Wait
Students need to learn to just sit and wait. Yep. Just sit and wait. No electronics or songs to keep them busy. Just sitting. Yep, you read that right… just waiting. It isn’t fun the first few times, but oh what a valuable real-life skill this is!
And it isn’t fun when you have to discipline or correct my child or anyone’s child. But I need you to because you love my child, your student, and you want to make them a better person. It isn’t fun for me either. But I respect you more every day that you make behavior management a priority in your classroom.
So PLEASE Dear Teachers,
Stop. Just stop…
Give yourself a break.
Take a deep breath.
Feel the love and appreciation we have for you.
You are awesome.
You make a difference.
Thank you
Such a great post! Thanks for sharing. 🙂 LOVE the Amazon wish list idea!
Amen some one else shares the same thoughts thank you
Thank you so much to those parents who are so caring and do make such a difference. You help us love and help your children – the very thing we enjoy and want to do.
Thankyou
Parents are teachers’great assets when they understand and support each other in children’s learning journey. TOGETHER WE CAN DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS!!!
This is perfect! Great words of advice bring a kindergarten teacher myself. God bless you!
A big THANK YOU for this wonderful post! I read it just after an hard school day and it makes me feel so good ???
Thank you! This is my first year teaching Kindergarten after 16 years of teaching 1st – 4th grade. It has been a fun year, but I do second guess and compare myself. Thank you for your kind reminding that I am only human and the expectation of myself is a bit unreasonable. Thank you for your kind words as I finish the year wondering if I did enough for my students who I love so much.
Absolutely awesome words! A copy should be put in every child’s folder at the begining of the year from the school titled “our philosophy !” Nothing like those feelings when you have to decide to use the last of your pay for an awesome cooking project you know your kids would love or keeping the money you need until next paycheck or having an extremely competitive teacher nearby that tapes up her kids art work from floor ceiling and has every cute idea in display in the hall and your thinking, my gosh, I just can’t keep up. ( and believe me, I wish I could have done that!) But you are right, as a Grandma, sending my child to a Catholic school ( and paying the tuition), I know my little guy needs a hug and loving words rather than every expensive project. That is what we have,and I cannot compliment her love and thoughtfulness enough. That is the teacher for us ! *And supply her with snacks so she doesn’t have to go get them for the kiddos that forget. Just Graham’s or saltines will do. I will have taught 30 years next year and truly love your kind and true words!
I typed my reply on my IPad , but some how every other word is misspelled ! Please correct or let me! Thanks, Kjerst
Thank you from a very overwhelmed kindergarten teacher!
Love this Mary, very inspirational, and great reminders!
OMG. I LOVE this post. I saw the title and thought. “Oh dear! What have I done??” But once I read the first sentence, I exhaled with relief. 🙂 I wrote something similar several months ago for my blog and then deleted it because I didn’t think anyone would understand what I was saying — I thought I was the only one that was overwhelmed with thoughts of not being well-liked or “good” enough — but holy heck this hit the nail on the head. Thank you so much for posting this. What a great post — helped me so much!!
Not sure why all of my i’s got deleted!! Weird!
I am a teacher and I agree. Please, remember the majority of parents and society really do appreciate what we do. It is not the parents or kids making the ridiculous changes or paperwork demands ( which no one seems to be reading anyway) so do the paperwork as quickly as you can, nod your head, shut your door and enjoy those little people with the bright eyes and the smiles because they are soooo glad you came back to them today!!
Thank you for this post!! I think teachers are so hard on themselves for a myriad of reasons and you hit many of them right on the head. I wish all parents were like you! 🙂
Traci
Very strange how most of the words are coming up misspelled for the very group of people whom it would drive the most bonkers! LOL!
Thank you! Nice post. I particularly liked the tip about teaching children to wait…just wait…a very important skill to teach, and yes, these days I think we actually need to teach it. I teach my students to ask and WAIT for the answer, because it might be yes, but it might be no…they tend to ask AS the do…
I also liked the tip on accepting that sometimes the activity wont be fun. I think we all try so hard to add bells and whistles to everything to keep kids engaged and parents from complaining…but sometimes, the learning just isnt fun and glittery. Sometimes it just is. I think that its okay and another lost skill that we need to teach, that is, to do something even if it isn’t necessarily “fun” but it is good for you or important to do.
As a teacher for 24 years, I have to say this is an awesome post every teacher can benefit from reading. Well said.
Wow! Thank you! What an awesome post. How true true true. thank you
Thank you, thank you, and again, thank you for putting a little whisper into our ears that we are doing what we are supposed to with whom we are supposed to be doing it! We so forget to ask for help because it is easier just to do it ourselves!!!
Bless you!
You have renewed my faith with this post! Thank you very much!
Thank you. Bring Susan back!! STOP THE INSANITY