Recent content by InsideAWord

My therapist did tell me that it was a form of dissociation because she said it is as though I'm watching myself teach and thinking about the things I do and say as I do them. I mean, I was told that what I was doing was dissociating.

Ha -- I'm glad someone asked. Sometimes, I really don't. It's exhausting. I've gone into the bathroom during my lunch hour or planning period just so I can fight back tears of frustration and collect myself because, even though I had this great composure in front of the students, I'm actually...

Well, this isn't necessarily "normal." Dissociation is a coping mechanism where you essentially create this alternate reality as a proxy to function within reality. I've had plenty of breakdowns, but I don't let it come out when I walk into the school building. I've been in therapy for two years...

I'm a brand, spanking newly certified English teacher. I got a job. In order to get through the day, plan engaging lessons effectively, manage behaviors in the classroom, explain writing skills and reading strategies, remember all the content from the literature, etc. I have to basically put...

P.S. I called two parents yesterday to inform them that their students' grades dropped below Cs and news spread like wildfire. They won't act out now. They didn't know that I had the power to do that.

Thank you, everyone, for the wonderful advice and kind words. I've definitely boosted the passion that I have for the topic we're studying in English. Even though I'm not that passionate about it, I'm amazing at faking it. Ironically -- I'm sitting in my psychiatrist's office for my monthly...

I really would like some advice or some support from the community.

Today I overheard a student in my first period say that I'm not a good teacher. I know that that is not true. Honestly, this statement is probably stemming from 1 of 2 areas: 1) the student is having difficulty understanding the concept or 2) half of my instruction is taken up by trying to get...

I haven't dated since my last trauma.

I don't know.. I'm afraid that it would get around then rumors would start. I feel like teachers are held to such a high standard so we can't even date without people speculating about it. I really want to pursue it because I am so attracted to him, but I also feel like I should wait for him...

I don't know -- I don't want to ask. He's a computer science geek, which is attractive to me. Also, when I first met him, I noticed his dark blue eyes and I felt shivers down my spine. I dated and other stuff plenty during college but I never had that kind of reaction when meeting someone...

Also, some advice -- I've formed a crush on a tech support staff member in the school. He's around 8 years older than me (I'm turning 24 this weekend.) How should I handle this?

I've been student teaching the past 2 weeks. Everything has been going well so far. I've been energetic and generally happy because I'm doing what I love. Also, I agree with the curriculum set forth for my academic level freshmen who are considered "at risk." Essentially, there is no way they...

I want to thank everyone immensely for responding to this post. I'm moved by the empathy and compassion everyone demonstrates in each of the posts (I read them all). I've been preparing for student teaching and working, so I haven't been able to reply until now. I've been proactive about...

I've had multiple traumas in my life -- some I have conquered, others I have not. We (my therapists and I) are working on this. My most recent trauma has stifled some of my creativity. I can create visual art, but that is not my most beloved art. My art lies within the realm of creative...