Tag Archives: teaching

Teachers: Not Naming Names –by Donna

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If you were a fly on the wall in a school in August, you would hear many humorous stories. Not about the students, but the teachers. Teachers have to retrain themselves, right down to our bladders. During the summer we “go” whenever the urge hits, but in school, you may be holding it a very long time. Going back to school can be exhausting: emotionally, mentally and physically. We all love our job and are thankful for summer break, but retraining our minds and bodies is difficult. Getting up early, being on your feet most of the day, and being responsible for umpteen students is exasperating at times.

I have many friends and family members who are teachers. I shan’t name any names, but these are some things that have happened the last two weeks.

Teacher Troubles

Teacher A was so tired she was asleep last night by 7, yet she overslept. But being the dedicated teacher she is, she made it on time. She came with wet hair, but whatever it takes.

Teacher B went to bed on Friday. Woke up the next morning and her contacts were not in the contact case. They were not in her eyes either. She had no recollection of even putting the contact solution in the case. Where are they? Only God knows. 

Teacher C wore her dress to school backwards. She wore it all day long before noticing.

Teacher D sprayed her hair with foaming bathroom cleaner rather than hairspray.

Teacher E drank her thermos of hot tea as she does every day. After a few hours, she thought it tasted bland and opened it up to see she had forgotten the tea bag and had only been drinking hot water all morning.

Teacher F may take the prize. Teacher F decided to have flowers delivered to her principal. But, she accidentally put her own name as the receiver. She had beautiful flowers delivered to herself! She was the giver and receiver.

National Teacher Exhaustion Month

Several years ago I was diagnosed as slightly anemic. During that time, I could barely function in the evenings. My children would tell me something important, and we would have an entire conversation about it. The next day I would have no memory of it. They began to say, “Don’t tell Mom anything after ten. She won’t remember it.” It was true. I would fall asleep in the recliner almost every night. It didn’t matter what was on TV or what was going on. That is how August is for a lot of teachers. We could name it, National Teacher Exhaustion Month.

I am thankful that God never tires. He is always wide awake. He never forgets our conversations, and never loses His focus. Our Father is never late or confused. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow–always at His best for us.

Psalms 121:4 …indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

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Teachers: I’m Just About Fed Up! -By Karla

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 Stacking Up

August 2, 2018 began my 27th year in teaching. Most jobs in our world today pile on more and more work for about the same pay. Being a teacher is no different. Task after task, stacks of paperwork keep heaping up. I will be one of the first to admit, many tasks are needed, but there is a limit to what teachers can take. I’m just about fed up!

I did some reading this week. (Research gathered from the following: factretriever.com, herelearningclicks.com, dosomethingright.org, and teacherhub.com),

Did you know that the average teacher works a 53 hour week! The daily in-school breakdown is interesting:

  •    5 hours of instruction
  •    36 minutes of supervision and discipline
  •    45 minutes planning, preparing, or collaborating
  •    36 minutes of grading, documenting, or analyzing student work
  •    15 minutes of communication with parents,
  •    23 minutes for lunch

This may be hard to believe if you do not have a close relationship with a teacher, but we work about 400 hours of overtime a year! Adding to that stat is the fact that 78% of us only get five to seven hours of sleep at night. For me, as close to seven as possible—I get a little grouchy without it! I need eight or nine!

Some say, “Well, they get all those holidays and the summer.” I’m going fess up for teachers all across America. First, we sure don’t get the lengthy summer that we used to get as kids! When you look at all the extra time we put in, you will realize we work the hours!

Pay Up

Let’s talk money. I read that the average teacher salary has only increased 1% in the last 20 year factoring inflation. Twenty to thirty percent of teachers have second jobs! But when asked about the most difficult things about being a teacher, our salaries were not in the top ten issues. Instead, we often put up money for our students’ field trips, lunches, coats, or Christmas presents.

In fact, surveys revel the average teacher spends around $500 on her classroom or kids out of her own pocket.

More and More Time Is Used Up

Times have changed so much in these 26 years. I hear the words, “I was beat up,” more and more. Fewer and fewer hands go up in curiosity. Sadly, I hear less and less of how the powers that be back us up. More of my time is spent cheering up kids and teachers, who both need an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, and a hand to pat them on the back. I spent countless hours during the year trying to come up with meaningful activities to build them up. I follow up with kids more often today than in the past because they need more people to show they care. Perhaps, this is because we are quickly moving away from a “what’s up” society to the isolated earbud land.  

As I have gotten older, it is getting harder and harder for me to wake up and get up for school. Recently, I was written up for the situation. Honestly, I own up for my imperfections. However, I am here to say, their requirements for being an effective teacher can take the wind out of you sometimes. Eighty-eight percent of people say a teacher had a “significant, positive impact” on their life. It has been reported that teaching is the second most important occupation contributing to our society’s well-being. The average teachers impacts the lives of about 3,000 students in their career! It is any wonder we are tired?

Giving Up

Maybe you’re thinking I’m too old and too tired to do my job anymore. Maybe you think, there are plenty of young teachers out there ready to take over. However,

  • Thirty-three percent of teachers quit the profession, within the first three years.
  • Forty-six percent had quit by their fifth year! They are giving up too quickly.
  • Only fourteen percent of the outflow in teaching is a result of retirement.

Sadly, I don’t hear many teachers or society in general public encouraging them to stay.

Less Back Up

Something has got to change! In the good-old days, most parents backed up their child’s teacher. (Social media is definitely not the place to vent about teachers. When a parent has concerns, they should talk to the teacher to learn the rest of the story that a child sometimes forgets to share at home.)  Help that trend begin again. We need your prayers and your words of encouragement. Yes, we need accountability, but we need respect as well. We need the higher powers to truly acknowledge the job we already do, encourage us, and offer assistance. (Yes, I am going to say it…and not pressure us with the threat of getting test scores up!)   

Field Day 2022

Please don’t think of me as unhappy in my profession. I am not. I love my kids, over 2,500 of them! Of all the ups I have mentioned, the most important one is this, Teaching and inspiring my school kids fill up my soul!

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Influence: You Never Know -By Donna

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After school today, I went to return something at the mall. As I walked in the store, a fellow, about 20, who was folding clothes, grinned and made a beeline to assist me. He was extremely friendly and polite; he asked me tons of questions about my day. I thought what a sweet boy, which made me glance at his name tag, Robby. Robby, I taught a boy name Robby once. As I looked back up, I saw the face of  a former six-year-old.

When my mind made the connection, I said, “I just realized who you are. I taught you.”

He replied, “You didn’t remember me?”

“I’m surprised you recognized me. That was a long time ago.” I said.

“Of course I do. You were my first grade teacher for a little while. But then they had to disperse the class and move you to another grade. After that year, my family moved, and I changed schools.”

“You are right! That’s exactly what happened.”

“Those were good times. I’m so glad to see you again.” He smiled as he handed me my receipt.

Now, normally I am quick to recognize a former student. But I only taught this child for about six weeks. Having taught school for over twenty years, I have encountered a lot of children. Teachers say they don’t have favorites, but there are some kids, that take a special place in your heart and it never goes away. Though Robby was a great kid, cute as a button and sweet as pie, he was not one of those kids who stole my heart.

The Next Larry Bird

As I walked out of the mall, I thought of a former student, Alan. He was one of those kids. In the beginning, we had no special connection. For a good portion of the year, I looked at him as a good kid to have in my class. He always followed the rules and made good grades. One morning as each child walked into my room, I announced something good I had noticed about them. “And here comes Kay as always sporting her cheerful smile.” “Introducing Denver, who I saw was the fastest runner on the playground yesterday.” “Look at Mike, the awesome artist of the room.” Alan was late that morning, so when he walked in, everyone was in their seat working. As he tried to slip in without drawing attention to himself, I proclaimed, “And here comes Alan, the next Larry Bird! I saw you dribbling ball yesterday.”

In unison, most of the class replied, “Who is Larry Bird?” My reply, “What! Y’all don’t know who Larry Bird is? Am I that old? He was one of the best basketball players ever!” As I explained, Alan stood  grinning from ear to ear. That one comment changed my relationship with that child. From that day on, he became attached to me.

Later in the year, a fellow teacher commented to me, “You need to take him home with you; he needs a real mom.” I nosed around and discovered stories that I won’t share. Let’s just say, he didn’t have a great mom. Nothing horrible, but sad no less. When May rolled around, we made our Mother’s Day gifts. As we bagged them up in the decorated brown paper sacks, he came up to my desk. The eight-year-old crawled in my lap and said, “I want to give mine to you.”

At the end of the year, his mother withdrew him, and they moved away. I cried.

Do Your Remember Me?

About ten years later I was at an out-of-town basketball game, and I saw Alan. I knew instantly from afar it was him. When I saw him head for the concession stand, I took off to speak to him. I was so excited; I couldn’t wait. Walking into the lobby, he looked up, and I smiled. He turned away from me. Surely, he remembers me! How can he not? He treated me like I was his mom. “Hey, Alan.” He turned around and said hey. But the look on his face said to me he didn’t know who I was. “Do you remember me? I was your second grade teacher.”

He smiled and said, “I think so.”  But I really don’t think he did.

I can’t believe Alan was so attached to me and did not remember me. I just knew, even when he was fifty years old, he would recall me! And then Robby who I only taught for six weeks, and I didn’t recognize, was so excited to see me. I guess you don’t always realize the impact you are having on someone.

Sometimes, like with Alan, a teacher’s care impacts a child only in the current chapter of his life because he needs you at that moment. Other students like Robbie you leave a lasting footprint in their life. For a teacher the important thing to remember is you do make a difference.  -Donna

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