My Lesson Plan is Not Working, Kids Are Not Learning, I Am Freaking Out!

Every Classroom Matters Episode 186

Here’s to you overloaded, exhausted, overworked teachers. Everyone is heaping guilt trips and criticism on you. But then, it happens. You look up and your classroom is in chaos.

The lesson completely falls apart. Nothing works. Confusion builds. You realize that the kids are not learning because something messed it all up. And now, you’re criticizing yourself. STOP IT! It happens to all of us teachers. So, what do you do when this happens to you?

In today’s episode, we don’t hand out guilt — we don’t even hand out all the answers. Two teachers talk about dealing with the days when disaster shows up while we’re teaching. If you’re perfect, don’t listen to this show – it isn’t for you. But if you struggle, let’s talk about how we cope and come through it as a better teacher.

Last time I talked with Alicia Roberts, it was THE worst day of my teaching career. That candid conversation, What I Learned from the Worst Day of my Teaching Career, has become one of the most downloaded episodes in the history of Every Classroom Matters. So, we decided to have another conversation about our struggles.

Enough of Pollyanna-everything-is-fine teacher stuff — lots of times everything ISN’T fine. Let’s get real. And if it is ok with you, let’s get a little bit vulnerable and acknowledge that more of us have this problem than may care to admit it. Teacher, I admire you so much. We will get through this. You can do it. 

Anyone who thinks failure is a weakness is no one worth worrying about. Alicia Roberts

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The post My Lesson Plan is Not Working, Kids Are Not Learning, I Am Freaking Out! appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!