NOW, what the "bleep" do I do???

[Spectre]

I am in a new school this year, in a mostly rural setting. Very conservative populace, but well behaved students.

I am not a nube; this is year #26.

I've learned lots over the years and tend to implement things, based on what works and what I have learned. Thus, my classroom methods are somewhat different than the more "traditional" teacher's might be. :)

I have a lot of classroom pets, the most famous of which is a water dragon (like an iguana) named "ET." My 6th graders love him to pieces.:waving:

This morning, about 45 minutes ago, I got acosted by one of our other teachers, this one a math teacher, RIGHT IN FRONT OF the students, and told she is tired of being told how "cool" Mr. T is and how she is NOT cool, etc etc. :confused2:

I was utterly flabbergasted!!!!

I have to say that I never saw this coming....

[Legendary]

Just keep doing what you're doing. If your methods work, and students learn, then you're doing your job and that's what's most important.

If this teacher confronts you again, I would tell her that children do this sort of thing all the time, to manipulate people into doing what they want. They probably want to do something, she says no, so they think of the coolest teacher and say, "Oh, this teacher is cool and let's us do this!" whether said teacher does so or not. It's manipulative and dividing, and judging by her reaction, it's working.

[seastarmath]

OMG! How did you handle that? I hope she apologized when her senses returned. I have found that some people always want to be top dog and can't stand the success of others.

She really made an ((* of herself, didn't she!

[MissTeach]

I wouldn't do anything. I would not change how I'm teaching, and I wouldn't mention what she said/did to her or anyone else at school. As long as the administration is happy with what you're doing and more importantly, the students are learning, then 'march on'!

[Spectre]

This was so weird.:confused2:

Well, be assured, I will change absolutely NOTHING in what I do or how I do it.

Administration is thrilled with me and has said so, the kids (I am told) count the minutes until they get to my class (middle schoolers are so nuts!) and even our school board rep has come by and commented. She said I could run for mayor and win. NO thanks! I hates politics!:angry:

This incident this morning took me totally by surprise. I knew things were going too well!:idontknow:

Madness!!!:rolleyes:

Then this afternoon, this teacher tells me that she was "kidding" and thought I knew she was. Sure didn't seem like it this morning.

Come to think on it, this was totally out of character for her.
Women!!! :eek:

[Spectre]

This morning, the same teacher told me that she had nightmares, last night, about my going about the school telling everyone what to do.....:confused2:

I have begun to think her resentment is real.:shootme: regardless of what she told me.

This I don't understand.:rolleyes:

[Flight]

Sounds like an episode from the "Twilight Zone".

I have never even remotely come across something like this. Being critized for being a successful teacher? This is beyond response.

The teacher's reaction to you may be an indicator of how her classes are conducted. Or is she just having a really, really bad day?

I would explain to your students that they will have an assortment of teaching styles presented to them through their lives. You consider yours different from the traditional teaching style. It works for you, but explain to the students that other teaching styles are not bad. They all have a different effect with different students. This is part of their learning experience.

As part of this lesson, you might tell the students they should no longer judge the other teachers. That is a lesson in how to behave with other people. A lesson in respect.

[Boxcar]

Wow. This is a tricky situation. On one hand, you don't want to make it escalate by getting too involved. At the same time, there is a need to address it - especially since it seems to keep coming up again and again. Also, it could be used as a valuable teaching experience for the children.

I guess i would try to avoid the other teacher and hope she feels better soon or moves on... Not the greatest solution, though.

[Spectre]

LOL!! I really appreciate all the remarks and suggestions, but I've begun to think it is a waste of my time to even react to this unfortunate soul. :laugh:

She told me, yet again, yesterday, that she was kidding and now says that her "nightmares" were not, in fact, nightmares, but just dreams. :confused2:

I should not even have reacted to all this, but it was just one of those things that fell out of the sky and was totally unexpected.:idontknow:

[Brit]

is she just an odd duck in general? I only ask because my mother in law is an odd duck, and from her, I would take this as a request for help or support (it took me YEARS to decipher her).

If she's just always odd, it could be ANYTHING. If not, maybe she's on the road to always being odd.

Don't take it too hard. one way or the other, it's a veiled compliment.

[hweber]

I would guess that she has her nose out of joint. She may have perceived herself to be the 'cool' teacher in the past, and here you come with your classroom pets and great lessons and boom, she is dethroned. On the positive side - keep up the good work, you are inspiring students to learn, and who knows, you may have a new Einstein in your class.

[Boxcar]

I love the description of an "odd duck"! Great phrase. :)

Could it be that maybe she has some sort of feelings-type things for you and wants your attention?

[Spectre]

I love the description of an "odd duck"! Great phrase. :)

Could it be that maybe she has some sort of feelings-type things for you and wants your attention?

LOL!:laugh: I really doubt that, Boxcar. I am old enough to be her father (literally) and besides, she is happily married and has a toddler.

I think the others are right. Perhaps I supplanted her as the "top dog" on the 6th grade hall (quite unintentionally I promise) and she doesn't know how to handle it.:angry2:

As I said, I know how I am going to handle it. I am going to (borrowing now from my military background) continue to march, keep plugging, not change a blessed thing I do.

[MsCoffeeLover]

Kids are funny, and she should know that. As long as you feel good about what you are doing, that is all that matters. Kids also change their minds every minute. Sounds like a few insecurities at work here. This really is her deal here.

You could always say, "Don't hate me because I am beautiful!" :laugh: That line always works at the oddest times.

When kids tell me that Mr. or Ms. So and So does this, I say to them, "Guess what? Am I Ms. So and So? Do I look like Ms. So and So?"

Kids love you one day, hate you one day, and its all good. It is good that you are getting positive feedback, and it sounds like she is taking a negative and somewhat manipulative approach to try to find out what you are doing when, in fact, she could just ask. She would also have to admit that she cares about what the kids think, and, well, you know how that goes.

Enjoy your new happy environment while you have it and embrace every aspect of it for every previous awful moment before it. If you hadn't had the awful experiences before, you wouldn't be loving what you have now. That is not your fault. It is what it is.

OR when she starts talking, you can just flick your wrist like you are spider man, and pretend your web went directly into her mouth and stopped her from talking. Then laugh. Throws them off every time.

[teacher5]

Some people are just strange. Knowing this individual made this off handed comment to you tells me he/she at least cares what the kids think and do. I tell my fifth graders if I make a mistake grading your papers and you tell me, I won't deduct any more points. If I made a mistake and you tell me, I will give you what I owe you. But don't tell the teachera next year in the middle school that they need to take more points off your paper because they made a mistake because they probably will do just that! Some teachers in my building say I am teaching dishonesty, but I say I am teaching respect and rewarding honesty and teaching them about future and how sometimes in life you get a lucky break, so why not take it!

[Bananas]

She sounds like the cousin of my former colleague. While I strived for teamwork, she was obsessed with competition. Does this teacher have a reputation with others where they "consider the source" with things coming from her? Probably hard to tell since you are new on board.

You know to keep doing what you are doing and if a problem exists, it is within her.

[mercygate]

LOL!! I really appreciate all the remarks and suggestions, but I've begun to think it is a waste of my time to even react to this unfortunate soul. :laugh:

She told me, yet again, yesterday, that she was kidding and now says that her "nightmares" were not, in fact, nightmares, but just dreams. :confused2:

I should not even have reacted to all this, but it was just one of those things that fell out of the sky and was totally unexpected.:idontknow:

Time to drop it; never mention it again. Even if she wasn't joking, she recognizes that her feelings are inappropriate and has attempted to save face by calling it a joke.

It's OVER. You might want to stay alert though, now that she has given warning of her own insecurity.