[__ Prayer __] Guidance

[lisa-in-FL]

I've taken steps for my planned career change by working as a sub to get classroom experience. Its been challenging to say the least. Every class so far has had at least one disruptive and difficult child. The kind that will push back on you like "who are you to tell me to stop?" Most of the kids are sweet and they like to get to know you even if its just for the day. I've even found that the troublemakers can exercise self-control for periods of time and they are usually bright kids who can do their work.

I'm still coming home every day questioning whether this is the right path for me. I'm already craving stability even though part of why I want the career change is that I couldn't stand the arbitrar,y 9-5-sitting-at-a-desk office life. I hate being this fickle.

I'm depressed over various situations in life, including feeling so lost and purposeless. I need prayer for guidance and clarification on whether I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Thank you!

 

[Christ_empowered]

maybe a charter school or private school?

other than that...praying

 

[Christ_empowered]

oh...or a montessori school (probably not spelled correctly).

so many -bad- parents these days...so much poverty, too...combined=rough time for underpaid teachers. i think...at least at a private school, the parents are probably more motivated?

 

[lisa-in-FL]

i think any school is going to be a challenge and i also don't have the experience and qualifications right now. i'm working on that but getting an alternate teaching certificate vs. actually going to school for it, isn't quite the same.

i've been thinking about it most of the evening. how one student can disrupt the entire class. even as a regular teacher that can be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. and the trend in education is to make modifications to their learning. rather than training the kids to behave they make accommodations for the kids.

its making me second guess this decision. so that's why i'm looking for guidance.

 

[HeIsRisen2018]

I've taken steps for my planned career change by working as a sub to get classroom experience. Its been challenging to say the least. Every class so far has had at least one disruptive and difficult child. The kind that will push back on you like "who are you to tell me to stop?" Most of the kids are sweet and they like to get to know you even if its just for the day. I've even found that the troublemakers can exercise self-control for periods of time and they are usually bright kids who can do their work.

I'm still coming home every day questioning whether this is the right path for me. I'm already craving stability even though part of why I want the career change is that I couldn't stand the arbitrar,y 9-5-sitting-at-a-desk office life. I hate being this fickle.

I'm depressed over various situations in life, including feeling so lost and purposeless. I need prayer for guidance and clarification on whether I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Thank you!

Praying and crossing my fingers wishing the best for you. Good luck!! ed

 

[Christ_empowered]

teaching -is- a difficult profession, especially -now- . even in my "red state," teachers are walking out on strike, a high % leave the profession after a relatively short period of time, and...and....

I -wish- I had something to offer you, in addition to prayer. But...I don't, sorry. I don't know your educational background, but...a friend, her brother was a teacher for a couple of years, then he moved on into the administrative aspect of public education (K-12). maybe a behind the scenes job would be better for you? if you stay in the public system, you'd get state benefits, etc., and I think the pay might actually be better than for those in class room. just (yet another...) random thought.

Praying, of course.

 

[for_his_glory]

My sister is an English teacher 7-8th grade and she talks about how stressful it is with problem students and how taxing it can be. It's not an easy job, but like she said it is rewarding when you can reach that certain problem student and see their life change.

On the other hand I have a friend that started out to be a teacher just to find out the kids drove her crazy and she left teaching altogether as that wasn't what she wanted to do all her life.

Right now you are getting your feet wet so to say as you are in the beginning of a new experience. Take your time building up this experience and learn from it as it can take you other places within the education system other than just being a teacher with students.

In my prayers.

 

[lisa-in-FL]

My sister is an English teacher 7-8th grade and she talks about how stressful it is with problem students and how taxing it can be. It's not an easy job, but like she said it is rewarding when you can reach that certain problem student and see their life change.

On the other hand I have a friend that started out to be a teacher just to find out the kids drove her crazy and she left teaching altogether as that wasn't what she wanted to do all her life.

Right now you are getting your feet wet so to say as you are in the beginning of a new experience. Take your time building up this experience and learn from it as it can take you other places within the education system other than just being a teacher with students.

In my prayers.

Thank you! I'm planning to see this through and see where it takes me. I've thought of working in admin eventually but I know you need extra schooling for that and having classroom experience helps as well.

Your sister sounds like my sister who has been teaching her whole career. It can be very taxing but she's said she wouldn't do anything else because of that impact you can have on the kids lives.

I had a great day with a sweet class on Friday which was a huge contrast to the rougher school I was working on Thursday. I'm learning lots, not just about the kids, but about how their home life and the atmosphere of the school/administration makes a difference.

Thanks for the prayers everyone!

 

[Christ_empowered]

i don't know your current education level or anything, but...an acquaintance did a masters-level program with these people, and he seems to have enjoyed the experience. he's now at a good job, etc.

www.wgu.edu

 

[Christ_empowered]

i'm reviving this. how's it going?

 

[lisa-in-FL]

Its going. In today's class, the teacher left a book called "The Very Impatient Caterpillar" for me to read to the group. Its about a caterpillar who doesn't really know what he's doing and doesn't want to wait the full two weeks to turn into a butterfly. I had to laugh, like "hmm, how does this apply to my life?"
In short, I am still very, very new at this teaching thing and getting my feet wet with subbing, managing a classroom, keeping kids on task, dealing with behavior problems without making them worse. So rather than trying to look for a sign every day or think about giving up when I have a bad day, I should focus more on the process rather than the end result.

 

[Christ_empowered]

wow. You're one of those bona fide "adults" I hear so much about, yet rarely see, these days...

seriously: your maturity and faith are a good example. I'll keep you up in prayer.

 

[lisa-in-FL]

Christ_empowered - Not exactly, but I'm working on it. I'm still in the "fake it 'till you make it" stage. Thanks for the prayers! Praying for your changes and volunteer work too!

 

[Truthfrees]

praying for you to prosper easily with God's help - ability - power

 

[Michael74]

I need prayer for guidance and clarification on whether I'm where I'm supposed to be.

Amen. I agree with your prayer for guidance.

 

[GodsGrace]

I've taken steps for my planned career change by working as a sub to get classroom experience. Its been challenging to say the least. Every class so far has had at least one disruptive and difficult child. The kind that will push back on you like "who are you to tell me to stop?" Most of the kids are sweet and they like to get to know you even if its just for the day. I've even found that the troublemakers can exercise self-control for periods of time and they are usually bright kids who can do their work.

I'm still coming home every day questioning whether this is the right path for me. I'm already craving stability even though part of why I want the career change is that I couldn't stand the arbitrar,y 9-5-sitting-at-a-desk office life. I hate being this fickle.

I'm depressed over various situations in life, including feeling so lost and purposeless. I need prayer for guidance and clarification on whether I'm where I'm supposed to be.
Thank you!

Hi Lisa,
Just want to say that I agree with Christ_empowered in his post no. 2.

Private schools are much easier to deal with because parents are paying for it and are more reasonable in dealing with their children. At least...that's how it USED to be.

I believe that if we're doing some good...we're always where we're supposed to be. If you're not; you'll know soon enough.

My best wishes.