My kids won't listen. My kids are disrespectful and cannot be taught. My kids think history is so boring and don't care what I have to say. My kids will never appreciate anything I do for them. Have these thoughts ever crept up in your mind? Consequently, do you feel like a terrible human being for feeling these thoughts? Guess what...you're not a terrible human being. Guess what...you're not a bad teacher. These feeling are perfectly normal. However, there is a difference between having these feelings these thoughts and actually letting them adversely affect your teaching.
For example, if you see little Johnny throw pencils at his classmate, then you cannot cast him away as a devil child. If you give up on little Johnny, then little Johnny will certainly give up on you and your attempts to teach him something. Listen, it's easier said than done. I get understand that. You all have that one kid that you think is the spawn of the Underworld, who is a destructive force in your classroom. You all have that one kid that puts their head down on their desk no matter how many times you explain why they need to listen to you. You all have those angel children that will work their butts off for you because they genuinely like you and want your approval. Guess what? You have to give UNCONDITIONAL LOVE to all your students. Its one thing to have hateful feelings for a child but to act on those feelings will crush your students. Tracking data and test scores for "student achievement" don't mean squat if your kids perceive that you don't like them. It also doesn't do you any good to hate yourself.
No matter how good or bad you think you are as a teacher, you are HERE. Let me be more descriptive. You are here fighting every day to make sure your kids understand why they should care about being a citizen of their town, Mississippi, the United States, and of the world. Currently, you may be facing what I call the Septober blues. Let's face it, the initial high you got after completing Institute and now the first month of school had dissipated. Now is the time where you are going to have to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, "Do I have what it takes to do this job?" While I don't know you, I can soundly say YES YOU DO HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.
You were selected to Teach for America for a reason. You have a team of individuals, including myself, who think you have all the attributes and willpower to be the best damn teacher you can be. You are an instrument of wisdom, intelligence, and strength. Your principal hired you because of this fact. If you don't believe me, then just ask yourself who would replace you if you quit your job? Trust me; your principal is not going to find a as qualified, hardworking individual to replace you. NEVER discount yourself as an individual. If you come to school with a mindset that you are a bad teacher, then you will be a bad teacher. Check your psychology 101 textbook for a term called the "self-fulfilling prophecy" and you'll know what I'm talking about.
I hate when people use war metaphors to describe teaching, because I think comparing teaching to fighting a war sends a negative message about teaching. However, it is tempting to feel like we are on the frontlines of a losing battle. Maybe your administration has told you to your face that you suck at your job. Maybe a student gave you the middle finger and told you to "fuck off." Maybe you ate Sonic double cheeseburgers three days in a row last week, because you don't have the willpower to walk 30 feet to the kitchen to put a hot pocket in the microwave. You haven't? Oh, it must just be me then.
Guess what? It's going to be alright. Let me write again in my student's vernacular, "IT GONNA BE AIGHT." Whenever I see one of my kids shove another kid in the hall, I tell myself, "IT GONNA BE AIGHT." Whenever I see one of my kids write "I hate school." on their assignments, I tell myself, "IT GONNA BE AIGHT." Whenever I look at myself in the mirror in the morning, I tell myself, "IT GONNA BE AIGHT." You are not perfect. I am not perfect. We don't have to be perfect.
We do have to put our best effort in our jobs and remind ourselves that we are teaching human beings that should be treated like human beings. You have to be the bigger person when our kids disrespect us and use it as a teachable moment rather than an opportunity to wail on some kids. Use humor, patience, and kindness in your solutions rather than mournfulness, intolerance, and hatred. You have to love yourself and not beat yourself up. If you beat yourself up, then you will not have the willpower to overcome the challenges at your job. Being a successful teacher starts with having the right mindset about yourself and your kids. If you get lost in the lesson-planning, grading, data tracking, and administrative bureaucracy, then you will be or already lost. So, take time to tell yourself Monday morning that "IT GONNA BE AIGHT" and go fight for your kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmwue6Jq4KA
