My first year

NEA Today, Sep 2002 by Jehlen, Alain

Right now, thousands of new teachers are beginning their careers educating the nation's next generation. What are

they faced with? NEA Today collected reflections of teachers who just completed their first year on the job.

August

school starts in two weeks! I'm teaching Title I math, and I'm extremely excited because I am a math nut! But my room started out with nothing but two chalkboards and students' desks. I didn't even have books. Luckily, Mom [who retired after 27 years of teaching] gave me her supplies. Other teachers offered supplies, too, so now I have manipulatives, math games, and workbooks ready. The school didn't even have a desk for me, but Mom came to my rescue and lent me a huge teacher's desk.

I've been switched! The students arrive in two days, and now I am the new special education teacher. Am I trained for this? No way!

September

My aide, Heather Long, is amazing. She's from this area so she's watched the kids grow up and knows their families. The kids look at her as a teacher. She's my professional colleague, and my friend. I can cry with her; I can tell her anything.

October

One of my students, Brian, wouldn't talk at first and never picked up his head. But we're beginning to get somewhere. I'm enthusiastic and kind of loud in the classroom. I like to have fun, and that seems to be bringing him out. Now he says, "Good morning."

I have a student who is very defiant, so I was sent to a workshop to learn how to deal with him. But the workshop leader's suggestions were no different from what I am already doing. So I asked the traveling miracle man what to do if none of those ideas work. He said I had the wrong personality for the classroom. I took offense. I said I was very happy with who I was, and all my other students are making progress because of my personality. Then my principal jumped on and agreed with him that maybe it was me who needed to change. I do not ever get angry, but I did this time!! For seven years, no teacher has succeeded with this child and all of a sudden it is my fault. I'm looking for a new job.

I went to the Oklahoma Education Association convention and saw a lot of people I knew from being on the board of directors last year. They all encouraged me and said, "Don't think teaching is always like this!"

November

Brian is permanently attached to his coat-he won't take it off. Finally, in desperation, I said I would stand in the closet until he took off the coat. I was in there maybe five minutes, with the door closed, in the dark, wondering whether it was going to work. It did!

December

They're going to hire another fifth-grade teacher. I figured they would hire me, but they're interviewing people from outside! The principal says I'm doing a wonderful job, so I should stay where I am. I started bawling! I said, "I need out of this. I don't know what I'm doing." Finally, she said I could have the fifth grade!

Today, driving home for Christmas break, I got a call on my cell phone from the principal: She can't find anybody to take my class, so I have to stay! I told my Mom I'm quitting. I'll get a job in journalism or public relations. I'm out of here.

But she says I should stick it out. If I stay the year, I can get my teaching license. If I leave, I lose the time I've put in. I guess Mother knows best.

January

I'm back from Christmas break. If I'm going to do this, I'll try to do it right. I saw Rain Man on television. Brian is my little Rain Man! I was told he was retarded, but after much work and many crazy ideas, he has started to communicate his love for math. When we started, he was adding one-digit numbers with blocks. Now, he's doing multiplication tables in his head! I don't think a mentally retarded student could make such a miraculous change so fast. I think he has been miscategorized for 11 years. I'm doing some research-I think he is autistic and can be helped.

February

I've never seen children like this. One minute they are kicking me, cussing and screaming, and the next minute it's "Miss S., I love you, you're my favorite teacher!"

April

After many months of frustration, I finally picked up the paperwork for receiving my teacher's license from the office. Next month, I will have completed my entry year. I am so grateful for the support of my mother and grandmother [both retired teachers]. They laughed, cried, and vented with me any time I needed it, and it always made me feel a little bit better.

When I picked up the forms, I also turned in my resignation. I'll find another teaching job for next year.

May

I couldn't attend the last day of school. I had already said goodbye to my students. Afterward, my aide told me my autistic boy grabbed a piece of paper and started writing my name. When he got past the Mrs. part, he started to cry and told her he wished I would not go. I started crying on the phone! This little boy never showed emotion before. I want to stay in contact with him. I hope I can continue to help him get better.

June

I have accepted a new job teaching at a junior high school near here, and I am already planning my classes. I am excited to be back in an area that I am certified in and comfortable teaching: Math!!