Teacher while pregnant at a inner city school sucks!!

Tallawah13

Third trimester has not been good so far. The high demands of my job has become overwhelming. I can't seem to keep my groove when handling all the late, missing and incomplete work. Plus, the insubordinate and disrespectful students. I'm trying to find time to contact parents, grade and take care of paper work when my planning is constantly being taken away. Pregnant teachers how are you dealing with all this stress? I'm tired and frustrated I wish I was in Canada so I can be on paid leave.

Cecilbear

I'm not a teacher, but wanted to pop in and say ((hugs)) to you! 

Rileypie

I feel your pain, I'm not in an inner city, but poor rural district where education is not valued so same problems. I just do what I can. I am the "mean" teacher who gives lunch detention for any missing assignment and I hold them after school (we have a late bus). Enough times and they get the point and start turning stuff in. I still have some trouble makers, but there is only so much one person can do. My rule is after 10 hrs of work a day I'm DONE. I turn off my computer and put down my papers and go for a walk. Not worth it to me to be stressed constantly. And yeah I do sometimes do a movie day, always educational, just to get caught up. Good luck!

LaNorte

I am a band teacher, and I have a concert scheduled on my due date! I feel your pain, and I wish I had some good advice. All I can do is delegate as much as I can, ask my husband to take care of me when I get home, and know when I need to say no in order to take care of myself. I feel guilty all the time that I'm not doing the best job I can for my students.

AggieFroggie

Being a teacher and being pregnant isn't easy. I teach 2nd grade and have been blessed with a class from hell full of huge behavior issues. This pregnancy has been really tough. My principal tried to be nice and got me a student teacher so I could sit more. Unfortunately my student teacher is a know it all who doesn't follow suggestions. It's like having a big kid to manage on top of my behavior problems. I really hope my principal listens and doesn't hire him for next year.
I really feel your pain!!!

CalinAZ

Fellow teacher here who definitely is feeling your pain. I just cannot put in what I used to, and teach in a state with no value placed on education, so it isn't a job I enjoyed before I got pregnant. I honestly have just lowered my standards for my teaching. I know I'm not as good as a teacher as I used to be, but I know I'm doing the best I can. Like @LaNorte said, lots of guilt about not being a great as possible, but I just have to be okay with having other priorities.

I've been trying to do some new things like having the students set their own class homework goal with a tangible reward (5 minutes of free time for each day of 100% homework) and having the kids who miss homework publicly apologize to the class and have the other students give them suggestions for how to get it in the next place. I am usually not one for public shaming, but it has helped. I was having half the kids not doing their work some days, and this team effort approach helped. Only 1 day in the last 3 weeks with 100%, but this week we've been between one and three kids, which is pretty good. And putting it more on the students makes it a little less on me, so I'm not quite as stressed. 

kseccomb17

Teachers are unsung heroes of our communities. Thanks for all you do! ((Hugs))

mallyandryan

I am right there with you. It seems like every day they add more things that I am required to do, but don't take anything away. I get there at 7 and leave close to 6 and never get everything done. I have one of the most high demand classes I have ever had and I am EXHAUSTED!! I have one student this year that crawls on top of his desk and screams about how he is too smart to be in my class. Then he continues to scream. Sending him out takes up too much of my teaching time because he refuses to go so I just have to teach over his nonsense. Really need April to hurry up

patunia7321

I can't imagine being in the classroom full time right now. I really feel for each of you!!! I teach reading intervention groups and work with small groups of students within other teachers' classes so I don't have my own class right now. It's still exhausting and frustrating. We're almost there, right??? 

Jennpjc414

I feel your pain! I don't work at an inner city school, but I teach special ed and have a lot of bad behaviors I have to deal with on a daily basis. Plus the paperwork kills me. Just trying to make it to April- we have a winter break coming up next week so hopefully that will help with some of the stress.

Laroo0220

I hear ya! I'm at an inner city high school and teach special Ed. It is definitely exhausting. I'm lucky bc I have 2 classes of kids I got to have for 2 yrs and I love them. My 2 9th grade English classes are another story. They're full of behavior issues and the due process paperwork is killing me right now. I tried to move some stuff up but march is just full of Ieps due. Ugh is it April yet?

rainy369

I'm with you. I teach first grade in the "rougher" side of town. I am completely exhausted each day and am beginning to lose my patience. No idea how I'm going to make it 2 more months. Hang in there!!

Mrssnelling

I really needed to hear I'm not the only one! I came home today after being pounded with negative things at after school meetings and had a break down!. I teach 3rd grade inclusion and it uses every ounce of energy, patience and self control I have in one day. I am trying to take one day at a time and know that I'm doing what I can...but seriously poopy diapers and sleepless nights sound AMAZING compared

erinlynn20

OMG! I seriously just got on to start a thread just like this. Teaching at any school these days is pretty tough.

I am a first year teacher at a very demanding school. Between the kids total lack of interest and motivation, meetings and paperwork from admin, and nutso parents, I can say I think the only thing that kept me from developing a drinking problem was being prego. This job is not for the weak or lazy that is for damn sure. I have never felt so much stress in all my life.

On a more positive note. We can do it ladies. I'm guessing most of us have spring break soon so that is one less week of work. You can do anything for two months (give or take). Just think of how great summer will be.

CBJmommy

I'm with you. With my pre e history I'm taking my Bp three x day and it's so high when at school I have a feeling I'll be pulled out after my next appt. At this point it might be the best thing. I teach intensive Reading/LA 6th/7th grades.

MadBloom

I am a sub and could work 5 days a week if I accepted every job and I can't imagine working full time right now.... I worked mon-tues-wed this week and am exhausted! And that's with no planning!! So glad it's teachers conference this week so I get a 4 day weekend and then am back at it next week. I also work in rural areas so my commute is around 45 min to some schools and all the driving is starting to get to me too.

woodstephanie

Seems like a common theme here..... classes from hell all around. I am only in my third year of teaching but can tell you that this group of kids are rough! The other ladies that i departmentalize with say this is their worst class in 26 years. Apathetic, rude, lazy. So counting down the days until I am out of there. I literally come home and fall asleep at 7:30. I bet my baby already thinks his mom is a bitch because of how strict and mean I have to be all day long.

Katiecave

My kids are great. But being a fine arts teacher mid-competition season at the moment is rough just because of the long days and the stress. I have had to rely a lot on parents and my principal is awesome. But I'm really not looking forward to the possibility of bed rest because of my blood pressure and leaving my UIL competitions in the hands of a long term sub hang in there (((hugs)))

homediva

I'm not a teacher but big hugs to all of you!!!

Alycia Hause

I am a fourth grade teacher in a poor rural school. Thanks goodness that this year I have been blessed with an over all great class. However, it surely is getting harder each day to keep up, especially as we enter the state testing crunch time. I think it is very important to set limits for yourself on the amount of time you put in each day. Let's be honest, we could live in our rooms and never feel done. Prioritize, you are in your third trimester and you may have to let some things go and in no way should you feel bad about that!! Keep it up ladies we're almost there !!

olenkapdx

I cannot even imagine being a teacher when *not* pregnant.  My mom taught inner city and my sister teaches special ed and I get tired just thinking about their workdays.  Anyone who has a teaching job, especially when pregnant, gets major MAJOR props from me!

hcam0707

I teach in an inner city school that is the 2nd highest city/town in poverty for the state. There are a lot of gangs in the school. That being said, giving them their education is highly emphasized and important, but as the educator we also have to protect our students and make sure they have the necessities like food, clothes, shoes, winter apparel. I have some students without heat and electric and we have been battling a terribly cold winter.
Despite their struggles, I still hold high expectations for them because I want them to do well. I want them to beat the odds.
I teach 6th grade Langauge Arts (Reading/Writing) and it can be one of the most difficult classes to teach our population of students. A lot of our students have English as a second langauge and it makes reading and writing very difficult. In addition, it may not be the most exciting subject anyway, regardless of the student population, and I try every way possibly to keep my students engaged and motivated. This year, I am fortunate to have 3 great classes (behavior wise) with a few bad seeds. However, I have students on 2nd-4th grade reading levels and it becomes very stressful because as the educator, in our district, we are responsible for getting the students on grade level. Our state test scores are a direct reflection of our teaching and we are held accountable for the growth (or lack thereof). All of that being said, I am very nervous to go out because my students will be taking their state test 4 weeks later, and I want to be there for them!
Plus, I will piggy back on PP that the high demands of meetings, data collection, parent communication, grades, etc is exhausting!!
End of the day- I still LOVE my job!

Airynn Chica

AggieFroggie said:

Being a teacher and being pregnant isn't easy. I teach 2nd grade and have been blessed with a class from hell full of huge behavior issues. This pregnancy has been really tough. My principal tried to be nice and got me a student teacher so I could sit more. Unfortunately my student teacher is a know it all who doesn't follow suggestions. It's like having a big kid to manage on top of my behavior problems. I really hope my principal listens and doesn't hire him for next year. I really feel your pain!!!

Does your Student Teacher realize that at the end of the day (semester) YOU get to write the evaluation???? Having your lead teacher comment that you don't take constr. criticism well or will not heed advice from veteran educators will not bode well to his/her professors.

Airynn Chica

I teach 2nd grade at a private school and we are just starting our school year (I have mentioned before). Starting the school year with all its prep and procedures and new faces plus being 6 months pregnant is not fun! I can only do so much and still parent my 16 month old and keep sane enough throughout the day. I still have parents that complain and they have only had me as a teacher for 4 weeks!!!!! Ugh! On top of that I have a class of no listening skills--is it just me or do they seem to get worse with listening skills every year??? I don't get to be done in April....I will break until July  2 and then continue with that group of kids until Dec 6....good ness.

*sparky*

I can't imagine how tough that would be every day.  I volunteer sometimes at my son's school and just dealing with those crazy 3rd graders for a couple of hours has brought me close to tears more than once.  At least at my job when I am tired or cranky I can close my door and block out the annoying people.

I just wanted to say I feel for you and commend you for all that you do for your students!

BeckyF82

I am also a teacher, in London in the UK, high school, English and Media to mostly 14-18 year olds. Im head of the department too So I'm shattered. I have to get up at 5.15am to allow me to drive the 1 hour into work. I don't get home till 5. I then mark and plan at home till about 7 or 8pm. Am so fed up of dealing with behaviour problems and phone calls etc. also I've had to do 5 school evening events in the last month which went on till about 8 so I didn't get home till close to 9.30.. I could literally fall asleep at my desk. Plus I have a shitty member of staff who teaches my subject too who I manage and she has taken 18 days off "sick" since September. All one off days with no medical note, meaning I am constantly covering her lessons and doing her job at the same time as mine. SO looking forward to April 4th which is my last day before maternity leave!

AliciaBeth

@LaNorte I am a band teacher, too!!  

Concert festival (Large Group performance assessment) is scheduled for when I am exactly 38 weeks and it is 1.5 hours away (my son was born at 38 weeks 3 days)! THEN- several days later my students are going on an overnight trip to Atlanta for another music festival/ theme park type event. Thankfully I have some great colleagues in my district who can fill in for me if needed. 

I'm honestly loving having a busy schedule. It seems to make the time pass by so quickly. My first pregnancy was mostly in the summer and I just remember being so consumed by the pregnancy. 

AggieFroggie

Airynn Chica - I don't know if my student teacher realizes anything. He is hoping to get hired at our school for next year. Today his supervisor came by for the first time, talked to him for a few minutes, and left. He didn't even talk to me. He told my student teacher to have me fill out his first site visit eval. My student teacher asked me to do it so he could email it to his supervisor tonight. I told him I have an electronic copy of the eval and will email it to his supervisor this weekend. I don't trust him not to change anything on the form especially since it's not great. I really hope my student teacher doesn't think he is doing great.

BreeShipman

I am teaching first grade and while I have a very good class overall this year, there is always that ONE student! I have had to rethink my standards for them this year. It's my first year at this school and the they are not at the level I expected them to be at. I feel like I'm not as good of a teacher as in the past but I've had to realize that I have to make goals we can achieve without me getting too stressed out. It is hard not to expect more out of them as I know they should be able to but I just don't have the energy to get them up that much farther. I'm focusing on the most important goals for them that still allow me to endure till LO arrives!

CalinAZ

Is anyone else celebrating that it's finally the weekend? Planning to do a little work today, but so far have very much enjoyed taking a mental break from work with some yoga and time outside in the sunshine. 

Hope everyone else can disconnect from the classroom for at least one full day this weekend!

AggieFroggie

I'm thrilled it's finally the weekend.

The only work related thing I have to do is my student teacher's first site visit eval.

Happy weekend!!!