And can I just say that the level of dedication and wisdom among Buffista teachers is a joy to observe?

After counseling in a DC junior high and hearing the product of decades of an evil system turning what might have started out as good people into raving, cursing, abusing...not!teachers...it's wonderful to see the care you guys put into your work.

Em, sorry if that was information overload. Maybe I should have just yelled, "DOWN WITH DIRTY, ROTTEN KIDS! BAH!"

t runs away from Beej

3. Whenever things get noisy, just stop talking. Stop talking, stop moving, and just look pointedly at the talkers. Wait until there is silence (which there will eventually be). Calmly start talking again. (This technique doesn't work every time, but it definitely works better than yelling most of the time.)

I can vouch for this method. The kids will do the shushing for you.

3. Whenever things get noisy, just stop talking. Stop talking, stop moving, and just look pointedly at the talkers. Wait until there is silence (which there will eventually be). Calmly start talking again. (This technique doesn't work every time, but it definitely works better than yelling most of the time.)

Yes. This. This is the method that I've always tended to use with kids.

runs away from Beej

Hey, anything short of screaming at kids that they are worthless/stupid or telling them that you hate your life and it is all their fault (pretty much direct quotes heard from my counseling office) is likely to impress me.

Hair hot! Kid cute! Teacher Bitches supporting!

I love this place.

Em, sorry if that was information overload. Maybe I should have just yelled, "DOWN WITH DIRTY, ROTTEN KIDS! BAH!"

No no, it was good. In fact, I may print it off. I just went off and read fanfic and then planned a little with AcrossTheHall!Teacher. Honestly, I'm okay with forgiving myself -- I just wish everyone's (not here -- at school) advice wasn't, "It'll be okay. You just have to not let them get away with anything," because that's exactly what I'm beating myself up for. So, you know, I KNOW. I could more use some encouragement that, hey, sometimes we're not as hardassed as we ought to be, but it won't necessarily doom the class for the whole year. Just keep trying.

Hey, I just made myself feel better! I will keep trying. It's just, a whole year of trying to explain that, yes, you CAN divide 8 by 7, and Roberto, stop talking to Erick; Edibald, this is your only warning that the hood has to come off; what's a negative times a negative? Erendira, spit the gum out in the trash can; no, it's not time to leave yet... Well. It's daunting. Thanks, everyone. I would just like this week to get over with, please.

Hey, anything short of screaming at kids that they are worthless/stupid or telling them that you hate your life and it is all their fault (pretty much direct quotes heard from my counseling office) is likely to impress me.

Yeah, anytime I get too down on myself for not hewing to good teaching practice enough, I have to remind myself, "At least I don't store urine in jars in my classroom."

Emily, I have something inspiring to say about various math teachers I've had in the past, except that I'm way too tired at the moment to give it the full treatment. Just remember that this year, you are on a learning curve. You WILL feel inadequate sometimes. But you WILL be learning by experience, and you WILL make changes and get things together in the long run. It sucks that you have to go through this now, but the end product - a great math teacher - is worth the pain and frustration. My math teachers not only taught me about the magic of numbers, but also taught me how to assemble a sensible notebook on any topic, gave me confidence (If I can learn algebra/trig/calc/stats, I can learn anything), taught me that sometimes a hard-earned C means more than an easy A, taught me how to ask for help, taught me how to stick with things I think I don't like and get satisfaction from them anyway. You WILL be doing the same things for some of your students. This is a precious gift, and like the pain of childbirth, once the pain of your first year is over, SO WORTH IT.

Oh, heavens, do I wish I could find all my old math teachers and tell them how much they meant to me. Emily, I swear by all that is Buffista, twenty years from now, someone is going to be saying these same things, and wishing they could contact YOU to say them to you.

I had one- pre something calc or algebra- who not only taught me stuff I use to this day, but was also kind enough to let me hang out in his room when I couldn't face lunch.

A toast: To teachers!