Authentic Teachers: The Feelings that Novice and Veteran Teachers Experience in our Schools

N

14

Teaching Conditions; Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Emotional Response; Teacher Attitudes; Elementary School Teachers; Urban Schools; Preschool Teachers; Teaching Experience; Beginning Teachers; Teacher Persistence; Stress Variables; Student Behavior; Psychological Patterns

Numerous years in several New York City elementary and nursery schools resulted in this article, which investigates teachers' emotions, specifically vulnerable feelings, related to their work. Often, teachers are quiet about their struggles, not wanting anyone else to know that they struggle, not wanting to expose their vulnerability. However, occasionally teachers open up and reveal that they are often frustrated, and feel isolated and hopeless. The focus of this article is to communicate to teachers, based on the results of this survey with 30 teachers, that they are not alone in their feelings of frustration and vulnerability; that these feelings can change with work experience; and finally, by being aware of and communicating their feelings, the excitement, happiness and frustration that working with children can bring, teachers can provide encouragement, motivation and camaraderie to each other.

Author

5

2006

ED490710