Having a hard time

[zebra15]

I dont know if this is the right forum....
I've posted about some struggles in the F&F forum lately but things are getting very difficult lately...
I'm about 2/3 done with the worlds worst student teaching assignment and I just want to finish with out going nuts again. I have all I can do to just get out of bed in the AM.
I took Friday as 'sick' to refocus and try to gather my thoughts... I feel so much better - away from the toxic mentor teacher I am stuck with. The backstabbing behavior she exhibits toward me and some of the students is awful. Im 30-something, I'm not up for this, I've been thru at least 2 mental breakdowns I dont need another... Im in the middle of a career change because of said mental stressors.... My meds are good, my mind is clear, I love the kids, I love teaching... All the other teachers and I get along, its just this one woman who just drives me insane.
I just can not fall off the depression cliff again... I need to hold on until 4/9/10 (last day of student teaching) so complete my 60 days so I don't have to start this process over again.
Next week is 5 days (i have a movie scheduled for friday)
Then its a week of spring week
Following week is 3 full days 2 1/2 days
Then for the last 2 weeks I *should* be able to observe again and have the class transitioned back to the regular classroom teacher...

BTW I am teaching highschool Business classes (sometimes called career ed)

[MCR]

Get out the calendar and big red pen and mark off the days till you are done. You can do it, hang in there, don't let that teacher mess with you and your career plans.
Come back here and vent about the awful things that are getting you down, we'll all give you a hand to get through.

[joyluc]

Take care of yourself, give yourself little gifts for getting through another day, another week. You can do this. As awful as this woman may be she will only be in your life for a little while longer. Keep focused on the being done with this and getting to where you want to be. Good luck.

[Thystle]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[zebra15]

Well a bit of a confidence booster... I FINISHED A PROJECT.... a blanket that I have been working on for a present is done and ready to be sent off.

I am confused by the mentor teacher... I have NO EMAIL response to my 'sick' email that was sent for Friday... well this shouldnt be confusing since she and I really do not communicate. Email is how I do most communication with her and a 'call off' was something that I would definately do in writing and not via phone. It's this type of behavior that is just so annoying that it drives me bananas. There is no follow up to my email of lesson plan details etc... but you can be assured I will be chewed up and spit out for not being 'prepared' on Monday... UGH...

I GIVE UP LOL

However the crafting is going well...

[zebra15]

I shouldnt have checked my 'professional' email today because well.... let the backstabbing begin again.... I know there are only a handful of days left (19 or so, I think) I will be checking and counting the school calendar tonight -

I guess I just don't understand the rudeness and unprofessionalism and child-like behavior some people need to display. UGH

[MCR]

Is she afraid you will be better at her job than she is? She sounds so insecure.
Is there a rating or feedback system in place after the placement is done?
If so I'd recommend that they not use her in the future as she is difficult to communicate with and doesn't make herself clear. Or you can say it in a not so tactful way

[Starflower]

Sorry you're having to deal with this crap. I haven't had an actual job in a long time but the last two employers I was with acted more immaturely about some things than my six-year-old. This woman doesn't sound like much of a "mentor" at all.

I don't have any advice. But I did want to give you some & support.

April is coming up soon! I wish you strength.

[zebra15]

Today was a giant headache and 220pm found me bawling in the car... wonderful....

If nothing else its another day done.... I have lesson plans for tues and weds and friday this week.... I just need to create something for thursday and the week after spring break... Then you can bet I am giving this class back to her and I am going to sit and observe the last 2 weeks.

The best part... she has no planning hour.... she uses her planning hour to go take graphic arts so she can 'teach' it 6th hour.... how is she susposed to mentor when she has NO TIME.... ugh...this has been a huge fiasco from day one....tomorrow is day 43

[Starflower]

One more day down. Good for you. This teacher really sounds like she should not be working with student teachers at all.

One more for you.

[zebra15]

Another day down. But I need to ask you all a question. I could be way off base (since I homeschool) but at the highschool level when the *teahcer* aka ME moves a student to a new seat at the student refuses to go...and i ask the mentor teacher for advice what should the mentor do?

What she told me to do was 'call the students parents'..... like now in the middle of class.... somehow I dont see that as a very helpful solution. What I was hoping for was either backup in the form of "Carol" you have a new seat, or some technique to deal with highschool kids that I hadnt thought of.

I'm not a big call home type of person, and really, did that interaction warrant a call home?
Not in my book, but you can bet she wrote me up for it... yes wrote me up for not calling 'carol''s mommy. ugh...

BTW carol is 17, has no IEP,and has a steady B in the class...typical teenage mouth in an upper middle class highschool....

But its another day done, today doesnt bother me as much

3 more days this week and friday is movie day - regardless of what the mentor teacher says and thursday is working on an individual project day so tomorrow is really my last day of teaching for a while

[Starflower]

That seems like an odd solution to me. It seems to me that she should have backed you up herself.

I also homeschool and have a younger kid so I have no idea what's typical for these days. However, when I was high school, if someone had acted like this, they probably would've been sent to the office or such. The school would've dealt with it during the class hours and then maybe a contact with the parent afterwards.

For all we know, "Carol's" mom might tell her she is right and to ignore you. I doubt most parents would appreciate being called at work or at home to deal with a discipline scenario at school unless it was one that involved violent or dangerous behavior. This doesn't sound to me like it warrants a call during hours.

I do remember having a few student teachers and as I remember, the regular teachers always backed them up if they needed it.

[zebra15]

Long story, monday 3/22 is my last day - 3rd hr after my evaluation from my university. (We have a week of spring break). I have no idea why this mentor teacher is so unstable and backstabbing but I recieved a call from my liasion from university today. I dont know if I am happy or sad. Either way this toxic person will be removed from my life.

I know I am not an awful person, I know I am not a horrible teacher, I just do not understand why a mentor can not help the student. I just dont understand ....

[Starflower]

I can't tell from your post what happened to remove the toxic teacher from your life, but I hope everything ends up working out better for you.

[MCR]

Originally Posted by zebra15

Long story, monday 3/22 is my last day - 3rd hr after my evaluation from my university. (We have a week of spring break). I have no idea why this mentor teacher is so unstable and backstabbing but I recieved a call from my liasion from university today. I dont know if I am happy or sad. Either way this toxic person will be removed from my life.

I know I am not an awful person, I know I am not a horrible teacher, I just do not understand why a mentor can not help the student. I just dont understand ....

It sounds like when you go back to university you need to go and have a long talk with the adviser about this "mentor" she didn't do much mentoring and did a lot of backstabbing and undermining. I really hope they never use her again and that this doesn't affect your education in any way. Role on 3/22 so you can be rid of this woman ASAP.

[Starflower]

Originally Posted by MCR

It sounds like when you go back to university you need to go and have a long talk with the adviser about this "mentor" she didn't do much mentoring and did a lot of backstabbing and undermining. I really hope they never use her again and that this doesn't affect your education in any way. Role on 3/22 so you can be rid of this woman ASAP.

This sounds like a very good idea.

[A&A]

It's hard when you're a student teacher and the students know that you don't have as much authority as the "real" teacher. Once you get your own class, it will be easier.

If "Carol" refused to move in my class, sometimes I try to make light of the situation. Sometimes I'll say, "Don't make me count to five" in a teasing voice. That usually gets them laughing, and moving, if it's a kid I get along with generally.

If it's a more difficult student in general, then I'll walk over to their desk and quietly say, "we can handle this easily now by you choosing to move, or it can get more difficult for you later." Then I walk away. I remove myself from the power struggle. If they don't choose to move, it does get more difficult for them later.........that's when I call the parents or talk to the administration.

[zebra15]

Right now, mentally I have removed myself from the equation. I have my lesson plans done for 3/22 and I am 'ready to roll' for those 2 hours that I am teaching. I have some great ideas for that day, INNOVATIVE like the mentor keeps wanting etc. However i can not undo whats been done.

I am at peace with the process and after 3/22 I will post the details. But I can say this mentor and I have vastly different ideas and ideals and I have no problem with that however she can not see anything but her own views. And THAT is a a problem.

[zebra15]

I emailed my last lesson plan to my liason. I will not check that email account until Saturday pm. I feel like a weight has been lifted from me. I probably should care a bit more how Monday goes, but honestly I feel like I've been abandoned for this entire process by my University, by my placement school and mostly by my mentor teacher. I feel angry, sad and upset that I had to PAY good money for this awful experience. I am still waiting to hear if I will recieve full credit for student teaching and be able to get my state certificate. While I want to teach, I almost want to take next year and continue subbing. I feel like I want to put more distance between myself and this 'classroom' experience.

Once Monday is over I will elaborate, but part of me still feels like I should 'keep quiet' a bit longer.

[Starflower]