No One Ever Tells a Doctor How to Do His/Her Job…

And no one ever thinks to constantly give crash courses to doctors, but lately since orientation, I have been irritated that there have been several attempts to teach me how to do my job. I guess everyone is scared b/c there ARE teachers that are accepted everyday that don’t know the heck they are doing (i.e. TFA or Teaching Fellows). (I actually have one in my grade and she is so lost. I feel bad for her, but I also feel bad for the kids. She’s the English Language Arts teacher and has no clue what the prominent Teachers College Literacy program is all about. If you know this program, you know that you can never make a successful crash course on this.)

It irritates me that everyone and their mother has an opinion of how you should do your job. Don’t get me wrong. I yearn to learn new ways and welcome advice, but only advice from teachers and administrators that have taught. They have gone through the experience and know how it is. It’s the advice from non-teachers, who, because they went through school, think they know how to teach and have creditable advice.

With all the advice bombarding me and being a new teacher, I have been finding it hard to keep my feet planted on what I believe in and not topple over.Other teachers and my A.P have been giving me advice. Many have been great advice that I will definitely take, but some I think are not me. I have a vision of how things are and I have goals for these students. I want to give these students responsibility. Some teachers say, “I don’t trust these kids…They’re going to do this and that if you give them that freedom.” Well I am willing to take the risk, but I am a bit scared, being a first year teacher, and all. I believe, if you are not going to take the risk your first year, then when will you ever take that risk? I went into teaching more than to teach my students content. I went into teaching to build up character and teach students to think for themselves. Although many of the teachers are not into giving these students choices or the autonomy to check themselves into class, I think they can. I just hope I’m not wrong and end up regretting all this. Most of all, I hope not to offend people for not taking their advice. I am constantly scared my actions or the things I do, inadvertently offend people.

Today was the first official day for teachers. All the teachers were all gathered together in one auditorium for a welcome back staff meeting. It was nice to see everyone and see how my principal is in front of everyone, but I really didn’t learn that much from the meeting. The other new teachers and I are still a bit clueless. We are just getting bits of information here and there from other teachers, principals, office staff. It’s definitely a crazy and haphazard time. I’m a bit overwhelmed now. I’ve been busily putting my room together and looks pretty good I think. It still looks empty though. My vision or more so procedures for my room is still not quite clear. I’m going to have to iron out the details this weekend.

Another concern is there is a lot schools do not provide for teachers, and school supplies are expensive. I should have bought more back to school stuff and brought it with me in my suitcase when I moved here to NYC. I have already maxed out my yearly budget. $240 for a year is a joke when you are expected to buy stapler, notebooks, borders ($4 for 39 feet), bulletin paper ($18 a roll), dry-erase board ($20), hanging folders ($8 for 25)…and the list goes on. I will sit down and calculate my receipts some day before next term. =p The cost of moving in and settling into NYC in addition to these costs are killing me this month. =(