Challenges Of Being A Teacher At FJUHSD
Dorothy, a second-year teacher, cites managing 35-40 students' engagement and constant interruptions as a major challenge, noting the "constant overstimulation" and the sheer number of decisions required daily ("teachers make an average of 1,500 decisions a day"). The difficulty in competing with technology and maintaining student focus while ensuring a fun and engaging learning environment is a significant factor in this early-career challenge.
Classroom Management, Student Engagement, Stress Management, Decision-Making, Emotional Resilience
Advizer Information
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Job Title
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Undergrad
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Dorothy Kim
Teacher
FJUHSD
UCSD
CSUF Teaching Credential
Biology & Related Sciences, History, Art History
Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Managing a large classroom of students with varying levels of engagement and distractions is a significant challenge.
2. Maintaining student engagement in a subject like math, which some students may find challenging, requires creativity and effort.
3. The constant demands and decision-making involved in teaching can lead to overstimulation and require teachers to decompress after school hours. The sheer number of decisions a teacher makes daily is significant.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
My biggest challenge as a second-year teacher, I'm sure it will change as I gain more experience, is managing 35 to 40 students who don't want to be there. They have their phones and Chromebooks, which are so much more exciting than me or even the content I'm teaching.
A lot of it involves doing math, and it's challenging to not only have them sit quietly or follow directions but also have fun and be engaged. That part is super hard.
On my end, there's the constant overstimulation from the students. Again, 35 to 40 students in a room is crazy. I go home sometimes and have to disassociate for 30 minutes because the silence is amazing.
In one period, someone is asking to use the bathroom, three people are asking to charge their Chromebooks, what did they miss the three days they were absent, I need to make up a test, can I have a band-aid? Teachers make an average of 1,500 decisions a day. Broken down into eight hours, that's four decisions in one minute. It's crazy.
So that's the biggest challenge, but I'm sure it will get better.
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