Tell Me I’m Not Alone
Happy Sunday ya’ll!
I’m sitting here and for the first time in almost seven years, I’m dreading Mondays.
I teach an Honors science course to high school students. Normally this is one of my best classes and one that I build amazing relationships with students in. However, this year, I have gotten one of the roughest groups I’ve seen in over 20 years. Entitled, argumentative, disrespectful, and malicious. This is a group that literally brags they’ve gotten a teacher to quit/retire every year since they started middle school.
I normally try to make my classes engaging, funny, full of discussion and activities. With this group, it’s just, “Here’s the material, any questions? Cool, I’ll be at my desk if you need me…” then just helping the kids who want to ask. The rest of them, IDC. Play on your phone, sleep, talk the whole class about non class related garbage…it’s your time and grade.
Everyone who’s had this group says they are rough and to basically just “survive” or “outlast” them. I hate having that mindset, I hate not being the teacher I want to be, I hate dreading seeing that group walk in every day.
Please tell me I’m not alone and can outlast this group (three more months and they’re gone since we switch classes in spring to new groups). I need all the encouragement I can get before I lose my mind.
Update: Thank you all so much for your insights, encouragement, and just making me feel like I was less alone. I’ve literally been in tears the past few weeks feeling like I was failing as a teacher because of how this group has made me feel.
I’m going to try to tough it out, keep things low key, and enjoy working with the classes/students that do appreciate my efforts.
I appreciate all of you, and I’m rooting for you as well. ❤️