Who knew that so much of your stress as a teacher would come from other grown-ups?
But here we are. In See Me After Class: Advice for Teachers by Teachers, four of the chapters focus purely on the adults intertwined with the job.
And in one-on-one Office Hours sessions, issues with adults come up frequently.
Here are the four main kinds of grown-ups you meet in school, and how we can work together to resolve issues that may pop up.
Your Students’ Parents: The Other Responsible Adult
Your main relationships as a teacher are with the children in your class. But having a parent on your side can make a huge difference, and a bad parent experience can ruin your day. In a session of Office Hours, we can shape your overall strategy for building a baseline relationships with parents that is productive, (mostly) positive, and manageable for you. We can also discuss a specific situation that is making your job more difficult and how to deal.
Your Teaching Colleagues: Making It Work with the People You Work With
While the majority of your fellow teachers are likely outstanding citizens, most schools contain a few reminders that carrying a “#1 Teacher!!!” mug doesn’t make it true. Office Hours offers a confidential place to discuss workplace politics and difficult coworkers—and to problem solve if you’re worried you might be the difficult coworker.
School Administrators: Sending Yourself to the Principal’s Office
Your administration is like a good pair of shoes: if it offers the support you need, you both look and feel better. If it fits poorly, it can get in your way and even become painful. This makes it understandably scary when you have to approach your principal directly, but a tough conversation doesn’t have to mean making enemies in the main office. Office Hours are a completely confidential place to discuss how to work as productively as possible with your school’s administration.
Evaluators: Observation Preparation Without Hyperventilation
There are two schools of thought about dealing with observations: “Always teach like you are going to be observed,” and “Roll out the dog and pony show.” They’re both right. You can book a session of Office Hours to help prepare your best sample of teaching for a scheduled observation—or to help make sure you’re always ready for company.