I can lend an ear.

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Home : 2001 : November : 7

I can lend an ear.
By CL

Oh my goodness! I started searching the web for help when I came upon your letter. It sounds so much exactly like the position I am in. After reading your note, however, it sounds like your students are a bit older. I'm
teaching in a first grade classroom. The teacher left 3 weeks earlier than we thought to have a baby. No lesson plans, a room with no sink or bathroom, one child who needs to be evaluated and 2 with major behavioral problems. I remember thinking that how bad it would be to have to do Halloween with them. Actually that day went well but the rest of the past few days have been awful.

It has been just three weeks and I would never believe that 21 first graders could get me to tears. Before I took the position I remember thinking that I wanted to keep my mouth shut about behavioral problems in the classroom. I never appreciated the teacher's room talk. While now I'm telling everyone my story and looking for help anywhere I can get it. My inner struggle is with covering material that is expected and keeping the class under control. We literally take forty minutes a day just to go to the bathroom. I'm looking for transition techniques. Let me know if you have any. Hey and good luck, I'll say a prayer for you.