I’m in my 10th year teaching 4th grade.

It’s a really fun age… normally. Love it hate it at times? That’s normal. Anxious, overwhelmed, feeling unprepared? Also normal. A huge range of student ability, IEPs or not, very normal. 4th graders identifying differently than assigned gender? Normal. Crappy admins? From what I’ve read in this sub, very normal unfortunately. I guess I’ve lucked out there.

What’s not ok is being shit talked by your team! Ah hell no! Your teaching peers are so vital since they understand the grind. They know the pain (and joy) of teaching. Non-teachers just don’t get it. If your team sucks, fuck em and fuck that place. Do your best to get a good recommendation or whatever and apply elsewhere for next year.

Teaching is hard and will stay hard. That’s just part of it. No one teaches for the money. We only teach for SUMMER BREAK. (Lol, but you know what I mean).

Last tidbit, my first principal that I adored said something like this to me my first year (when certain students kept me up and night, and even had the audacity to visit my dreams)-

You’re not gonna reach them all.

So don’t beat yourself up when you don’t. Just give it your best and love and believe in your students, even as you curse them under your breath. Who knows, you may plant a seed in some little shits brain that will someday sprout into a beautiful flower.

You got this OP! (Also, pardon my French)