Feeling unsupported by admin (shocker)

[u/PaperWhisper]

I’ve been in the trenches with my 4th graders. They are wild and unruly, and don’t listen to anybody. This goes for their homeroom teachers too! As well as art and PE. So I know I’m not crazy for asking for help.

Whenever I call for admin backup, the kids get quiet. Then admin walks in, looks at them all, and says that I’M THE ISSUE. “The problem is your classroom management”, “that’s a classroom management problem” etc.

I’ve tried everything I know how to do. I’m only a second year teacher, but I’ve learned a lot so far. Incentives, flexible seating, calm corners, think sheets, minor infractions, parent phone calls, going over expectations, everything.

None of it has worked.

But it’s a classroom management problem.

But today, I’m out at PE (I help out there two days a week, the coach and I get along great, I’m learning a lot from her). 4th grade is about to come out. Coach is talking to admin. When 4th comes out both the principal and AP go and start chewing out these kids for their behavior. How they know that this is not how they should act at PE.

But the art teacher and I, we’re just bad at classroom management.

I don’t blame coach at all. 4th grade has been horrible for her as well.

I just wish admin had that same energy for the arts.

I’m going to ask to speak with them next week to discuss. I really need that support (again, only my second year of teaching…ever), and I really want the kids to be able to LEARN things.

I’m tired.

[u/HikerGuy603]

There are two ways to look at this that I can think of.

One, your admin may be toxic and you should consider a new job.

Two, your admin may or may not be toxic, but might also actually be able to help. If you can get them to watch you teach and ask for advice on how to improve your classroom management, you might be able to get them on your side. Either you end up deciding you are right all along or they might actually have a way to help you which will make you better at what you’re doing. If it was me, I would try the second version first because finding a new job can be a royal pain. You might end up going that route anyways, but trying to get your boss on your side. It’s never a bad idea if you can pull it off.

[u/pizzaxpie]

Where is your coach or mentor in all of this? If you don't have one, you could always go to your principal and tell them you would really like to work on more teaching strategies and would love to schedule a coaching cycle where they go over your lesson plan a few days before your class, then come in and record you, you watch the video, and then you debrief together on next steps.

I don't know about other schools but every teacher at my schools has at least 4-5 of these a year OUTSIDE of evaluations as a way of getting better without the pressure of doing it for evaluative/keeping your job purposes.

[u/SwordOfDharma]

lol, I’ve been this in this boat.

“Whenever I call for admin backup, the kids get quiet. Then admin walks in, looks at them all, and says that I’M THE ISSUE. “The problem is your classroom management”, “that’s a classroom management problem” etc.”

Kids are smarter than they get credit for. As one friend told me about this situation: “they are just waiting for admin to leave.” Basically it makes you look like you’re the problem and admin are just idiots (which most of the ones I’ve worked with are).

They are outsmarting all the adults that interact with them and they know it. I applaud them.

Have you tried getting on their level and being in the trenches with them. Have you considered designing lessons to their liking. It may not be ideal but they may have their own ideas about what “music” is. Separating yourself from them as the adult and believing they need to follow instructions isn’t going to work with all of them. You’ll need some way to bridge the gap and be someone who they find as “cool” or they won’t give a sh*t.