Down the Rabbit Hole

So I was in Barnes and Noble today as as usual I went for the education books and started browsing there. The books there are interesting and some of them I have read and there are some that I would rather remember to take out of the library, but I am forever disappointing that there are none for me. The books seem to be aimed at teachers of higher grades like middle school and high school. I just want an inspiring story about teaching preschool and maybe just maaaaaaaaaaybe teaching somewhere where the students are mostly ELL while the teacher only speaks English. According to the bf, this is a very specific want and I may just have to team up with people and write it myself.

Anyone know of any books that deal with teaching preschool? or Headstart? 

So, I am reaching out for advice. When I walked into my new job in August, the teacher who is sharing a room with me said “this is how the room is set up” and that has been the tone for the whole year so far. I have a drawer and a bulletin board. I was given a cabinet but she likes to throw things in it. As in junk or things that should be out in the centers but she has taken out for one reason or another. We do not plan the same topics of studies so I make sure anything I use that’s theme specific can be taken out before my pm class starts and then put away at the end of the day. She has taken it upon herself to decorate the room in her theme this month. So my kids are distracted and asking what everything is. She comes in and reminds everyone that everything is hers (“don’t lean on that shelf that’s mine” “don’t play with that toy like that its mine”) and when I do leave anything out it winds up in her closet which she has a child lock on, seemingly as a warning to keep out.

It’s my first year as a preschool teacher and I’m finding it very hard to share the room and make sure that some of me is in it and it feels like my students classroom in the afternoons. Any advice or stories from people who have had to share rooms? I’m not really looking to cross this woman so I’m pretty determined to just stick it out for the year and try not to go back next year. But I could use a good story or something to help with the miserable feeling I get when I think about it….

So people have had that student that makes you so crazy you start rethinking everything right? The behavior kid who you cannot find enough resources for? The one who needs something that you feel like you just aren’t able to give because you aren’t sure what it is? maybe?? I could use some stories right about now…

That I had a day off due to the storm, and then I went in today just to do paperwork and stuff(no kiddos today), but I still don’t want to go in tomorrow at all?

Does anyone else sometimes question their decision to teach? I feel like I should feel more at home and sure. But, sometimes I like it and sometimes I think that maybe I made a mistake. Blah :(

I am not ready for the week! I am getting three new children this week and I am just starting to see improvements in the students I already have! We have a little bit of a routine going on and this week could be hell week. Three new students and my assistant might be leaving. I have no idea if she is, if they have a backup, or if this is going to be the worst most chaotic week ever. 

One of the biggest issues that is going on in my class with the chaos is that most of my students do not speak English. I get no support for this, I have asked for advice and I mostly just get “you just deal with it” or, “just pick up a few basic words” as a response. The new kids are a mix of English and Spanish speaking. My assistant speaks Spanish but I do not know how long she will be there for. I feel awful because its frustrating for me and it must be frustrating for them that there is this communication barrier. I tell them to sit on the rug, the ones that understand me do and the ones that don’t understand me go wander to the shelves and pull things out which leads the others to do the same….the whole day goes like that. It is exhausting and it is no ones fault. In time we will have better communication, I know this. I just need some support and some help right now. This is my first classroom, I have all the babies, and I don’t have much experience at all with ELL students. I could use some advice.  

Please there me that I am not the only one that has taken a bathroom break just for somewhere to cry. That I am not the only one who comes home crying. Who feels like  the other teachers are looking at me thinking “how in the world did she get a degree in this”. Who is wondering herself how she got a degree in this. I know the first year is the hardest, but I cannot find answers to my problems and I dont know what to do except eat too much pasta and watch bad tv. 

I am going to be the pm teacher in a preschool classroom which means I am sharing space and cannot just put decorations wherever I wany. Anyone else going or has gone through this that can offer some tips? I really want the kids to feel like its our space but everything has to be shared….

Any of the teachers on here have recommendations for books on early childhood curriculum? I keep finding these great books geared toward older classrooms but the only ones I find for the little people are parenting ones or really cheesy. Any recommendations for a good preschool resource?

To the teachers out there, how do you decide what you want to teach? 

I have applied for first grade, kindergarten, preschool, and toddlers. The toddler and preschool interviews went well but the idea of them possibly calling back is freaking me out! How do I decide that I want that age group for an undetermined amount of time? How do I decide that I do not want to be in a public school classroom? 

Any ideas?