u/turtlesandmemes

I’m a first year teacher. I am 9th grade biology, and it has been a hectic first year. I am teaching freshman, I am teaching a tested subject, and I’m teaching at a newly built campus.

The end of the 1st 9 weeks is coming up in my district, so I tallied up how many students are currently failing my classes. 47 out of ~120 students are failing.

My test scores are on par with, or slightly above, the district average. I don’t feel like I’m teaching the material incorrectly or unclearly. I feel like I’m doing decently for a first year teacher.

I’ve provided two extra credit opportunities. The requirements were clearly communicated, and students had class time to work on them. If they completed both, they could add up to 10 points to their final class average.

I’ve also provided test corrections for each exam, but only 15 students have taken advantage of the opportunity to retake an exam.

I sent out a parent email asking parents to check their student’s grades and have them work on missing assignments over the weekend before grades are due. Grades are due this week.

On Monday, students will check their grades for my class and receive a sticky note. On the sticky note, they’ll have to write down three things: what missing assignments they have, what test they would like to retake, and their plan for getting those things done. For students who are currently failing, I’ve already done part of this for them. I’ve written their grade, missing assignments, and which test they should retake.

At this point, I feel like I’m at a loss for what else to do.

I feel like I’ve done everything that I reasonably can do to give them opportunities to improve their grades.

Is there anything else I could be doing?

It’s my first year teaching. I work at a good district. I work at a good school. I have good administration. I have a decent team. I have relatively good kiddos.

I was so excited to start teaching this year. I prepared. Bought all the things. Attended PD. Made friends with colleagues before the year started. I feel like I did everything to set myself up for a successful school year.

Now I am in week 4 and have realized how hard this job is.

It is not teaching that is hard. It is everything else administration expects you to do. It is the constant working from home. It is the constant pile of work that keeps being widdled down, then more things piled on top of it.

I can teach.

I just can’t do this for the rest of my life.

I wake up every morning miserable, I leave every morning PLC ready to cry, and I leave every day miserable. I consistently cry at work. I’ve weighed the pros and cons of driving my car into a tree. I’ve thought about the proper way to aim the barrel of a gun into my mouth. I’ve considered just about every way to off myself.

My partner and parents think I should stick it out to the end of this year.

I’m at the point where don’t think I can.

I’m a first year teacher at a newly built school. My classroom is in an awkward spot…my door is a bit away from other teachers; there’s no one to the left or right of me, and no one across the hall from me.

I’m also an introvert.

How can I make an intentional effort to make friends without coming across as overbearing?

I’m a first year teacher. I just moved across the country. I have literally $0 to my name and won’t get paid until September.

I’m starting at a newly constructed school, so there will be no supplies left by prior teachers.

What items are most essential to running a high school classroom?

Where can you get supplies for cheap?

Got a contract after subbing for 1.5 years. What’s the biggest difference between substitute teaching and full-time teaching?

Any advice?

Got a contract after subbing for 1.5 years. What’s the biggest difference between substitute teaching and full-time teaching?

Any advice?

Hi.

I’m working my first retail gig. The store is undergoing renovations. We tore down a wall before the store opened today. This left lots of sawdust and dust on the floor. My manager asked me to sweep and mop the floor during operating hours. It’s a large 10 x 10 area. I had mopped it, and warned the store owner to keep an eye out for customers in that area since we only had 3 “caution, wet floor” signs.

I don’t want anyone to slip and fall. Just a lot of drama that I don’t want to deal with.

After about 5 mins I walk past and hear the store owner actively telling customers “the floor is wet, but you can walk on it to get a better look at the product.”

I’m just not sure if this is normal, or would send any other store owner or manager into cardiac arrest.

Context:

I have 2yrs subbing experience
Worked multiple summer camps
Spent 2.5 yrs as a college-level math tutor

I have a composite science cert.

I’ve had 1 screening and 1 interview, both with different schools and districts.

My interview prep is looking at common teacher interview questions, and forming answers and reciting them.

I feel like I’m fumbling hard.