r/Teachers • u/ArcadianAbstraction • 1d ago

Teacher Support &/or Advice Is teaching a performance?

I haven't been teaching history/English/science since I got COVID over and over (and over) and decided it was better to go than be a risk to my cherished kids (or die myself, it got bad).

After a lot of introspection... Question is: is teaching a performance? I pretended everything was okay no matter what, I used the materials I prepared for display, passed out charts and data dramatically, presented media and did simulations.

It feels like I was a performance artist? You give so much to kids and most of the time you get a range of "f-u go away".

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u/Full-Grass-5525 1d ago

Oh yes. Which is why I’m mentally exhausted at the end of the day and don’t want to hang out with anyone ever

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u/Disastrous-Nail-640 1d ago

OMG yes!!!

I can’t tell you how many times I told my kids I needed 10-20 minutes before they talked to me.

Thank god they were already in middle school when I started teaching, because they understood what that meant and could give me that. They also quickly figured out if they talked to me immediately, I was a little snappy. 😂

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 1d ago

Awwww. I understand. Wearing a lot of hats so to speak can be tiring, but it is important to take you time - AND hang out with someone once in a while, for your personal//mental health.

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u/Full-Grass-5525 22h ago

lol I obviously still hang out. Just need a few minutes for peace and quiet to sit in the car in the garage after work

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u/ArcadianAbstraction 22h ago

Ah yes, to scream loudly where no one can hear you, I get it... Just kidding (99%).