Dear We are Teachers,
I put off getting a dog throughout college and teaching for the first few years of my life because I wanted to wait until I could provide a happy life for him. I live alone and it takes about 30 minutes to get to school. But now that I'm financially stable, have summer vacations, have an easy schedule, and live in an apartment with a dog park, I think I can be a great dog owner. I paid a deposit to get an English Springer Spaniel puppy right around the time school starts, so I have time to train her. My parents are furious, saying it's cruel to have a dog because of my school schedule. What are your thoughts?
—Potentially Ready
Dear PP,
Oh, there's a lot I really like here:
- dog
- teacher
- Your commitment to providing your dog with a happy life.
- I think my concerns about my parents come from a good place.
- Simple thoughts on English Springer Spaniel puppies. Wait. I think you should Google it. Oh my gosh, their little freckled legs and bellies sent me into orbit!
great. Let's move on to the less fun part.
I think the word ‘cruel’ is a harsh term in this situation. However, I think there are a few factors to consider when going into pet ownership.
First, bird dogs are one of the highest energy breeds. I'm no dog expert, but I can tell you anecdotally that these dogs are very difficult to wear. My husband had a German Shorthair Pointer before we got married, and in between running 2 miles with me in the morning and 5 miles with him in the evening, he was still doing parkour on the walls, furniture, and all over the room. There was one in my house when I was 5 years old!
Second, your puppy will be a puppy for much longer than the summer. Human energy dedicated to biting, chewing, jumping, training and retraining often lasts for years. (See previous point about the 5 year old bionic GSP.)
Likewise, sometimes people forget that when they get a dog, it needs to fit not only their current life, but also their future life. Think about your personal and professional goals for the next 10 years. Are you planning to start a family? move? Would caring for high-energy breeds fit into such a plan?
Here's what I would do: First and foremost, look for Facebook groups of English Springer Spaniel owners. Be honest about your schedule, commute, apartment size, and your expectations and ask for guidance on whether they would recommend this breed as a starter dog. Also, talk to a representative at your local shelter about all of your lifestyle factors. Not only will the shelter be able to offer you foster opportunities, but they may also be able to recommend a dog breed (or age) that might be right for you at this time.
You may need to make difficult choices and readjust your expectations. But having a teacher's schedule and being a responsible dog owner are not mutually exclusive. And if you decide a puppy isn't right for you now, who's to say it won't be right for you later?
Dear We are Teachers,
I need to prepare sample lessons for the second interview in a few weeks. I have a few questions. 1. Is it better to show a less impressive lesson that I feel more comfortable with, or a very impressive lesson that I can't guarantee will go perfectly? 2. What should I tell my current principal when I request a personal outing for an interview? 3. Do you have any other tips for teaching sample lessons for interviews?
— Secret Instructor
Dear II,
1. When the risk is high and there is a possibility of being nervous, I always Please recommend a more convenient route. Yes, a beaded mermaid bridal dress may be stunning, but you can actually dance in a full skirt (it even has pockets!). Yes, direct flights are more expensive, but do you really want to risk more delays by stopping over right before your big conference speech? You get the picture.
Your interview panel won't (or at least shouldn't be) surprised by the class itself. they are watching you. They want to make sure you are the person in the classroom who can connect with students, stay calm under pressure, and engage students in learning. The best way to achieve this is to feel confident and comfortable.
2. You will be sick and use your sick days. (Consider this: If you don't get the job, do you want your current principal to know you're looking around?)
3. Yes! Ask if you can arrive early to prepare and use that time to observe your students and get a feel for behavior management. Instead of relying on your host teacher for materials, try to bring everything you can. (Think of how hungry you are when you suddenly hear, “Oh, I forgot I needed a marker!” or “I don’t have a computer cart today.”) Additionally, here are 10 elements and then some to include in your demo lesson. Here are some of the best interview tips.
Good luck!
Dear We are Teachers,
I got a call from the AP office this week because I didn't submit my lesson plan on time. Lesson plans must be submitted by 11 PM each Sunday and sent by 7:11 AM on Monday morning. I apologized and said I was very tired after a long weekend. He replied, “Well, I wasn’t tired enough to write a Facebook status at 11:30 PM.” I took a screenshot from his phone.. He then told me I could take responsibility and apologize for the lies or write him for insubordination. I got angry and told him to write to me and I've been angry ever since. I don’t know how that person got my Facebook status. We are not friends and my account is set to private. Can your manager punish you for obtaining information about your personal life?
PS My condition was just how tired I was over the long weekend!
—Disobedience
Dear me,
Where do you work? I'm asking because I want to interview the manager enough to take this much interest in something so trivial. Clearly, this is a school with no student discipline, no phone calls, no chronic absenteeism, no angry parents, no student violence, no test scores, or paperwork to deal with! (*I look at you cynically.*)
Here's the problem. I don't think this is my first scuffle with this cream-faced idiot (let me know if you need more satisfying Shakespearean insults). Without intervention, you won't see him magically soften towards you and soon have you off his radar.
If you don't want to rock the boat, you can meet the person and apologize. People with huge egos tend to accept “You were right, my lord” pretty quickly. Then add the hack to your Facebook friends list. Someone you both know sent him a screenshot, and it's weird.
However, if things are not going well, ask your school's union representative about the situation. Even if you are not a union member, they can advise you on whether the writing is legitimate and what your next steps should be.
Do you have any questions? Please email askweareteachers@weareteachers.com.
Dear We are Teachers,
I am leaving my third year position at the end of the year with a good relationship with the principal and school. The principal asked if I would be interested in being part of an interview panel for my successor. I initially said yes because I thought it would be helpful to provide feedback on the position. But the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure what I can contribute. Other teachers from our school and my partner teacher can all sit on the panel and provide relevant information. Does it look bad if you change your mind and say no?
—The Awkward Interview Turtle