Q: When is a rookie not a rookie?
A: When they don’t suffer from Pobrecito Syndrome.

Thanks to Vanessa at Pre-(K)Now’s Inside Pre-K blog I finally have a vivid term: Pobrecito Syndrome, to describe when teachers feel sorry for at-risk students. This is a concept I was adamant about with the student teacher I supervised last year. She currently works as a 1st grade teacher in my school. I told her that she had to have high expectations for the students, don’t pity them more than you expect them to succeed. If you do you fail and so do the kids.

Our school is one of the 3-4 toughest elementary schools in the entire city. Possibly THE toughest. I am at this school for a reason. I am here to give the most help to the neediest children.

You were successful. Everyone (including principals from other schools and other local school systems) knows that if you can teach at here, you can tech anywhere.

Before our turn-around principal came the kids ran the school. 3 years ago, after spring break there were approximately 2-5 incidents of disruption every day. At least one false fire drill from students pulling the alarm per week.

The kids haven’t changed, the school has.

I will give you my best advice, if you want to make a difference, if you think you can cut it, you should give it a try for at least 3 years. If I were you, I would commit totally to a certain amount of time, and then decide after that amount of time if I wanted to stay.

Most of all you have to realize that if you do come to here, you have to buy-in completely to the school and its culture. Don’t do it if you think you need to come because you have to change the way things are done. You will only be disappointed. I have seen it many times with young teachers. You have to be comfortable with an authoritative environment. That is what our kids need because many of them don’t have anyone in charge at home. They need to know they can’t get away with stuff, it makes them feel safe, (and frustrated.)

Most of all I would do it while I was young, while I was still idealistic, while I had a great deal of energy. It is much easier to go from a hard school to an easy one than the other way around.
You will never be bored, you will always be challenged.

What ever you decide I *know* you will be successful and, in a couple years, you will be ready for a new challenge.(Maybe National Boards 😉

Best wishes in your decision. I hope I see you next year, if not, you will make a really great teacher for some really deserving kids.

Have a great summer and get lots of rest, you won’t get much next fall now matter where you are.

She has done awesome this year. She totally has it down and her kids… are the best behaved on her grade level. She bought into the authoritative approach, which has got to be hard for a 23 year person, and she made it work. I find it fascinating how the authoritative approach translates into high expectations when it comes to at-risk students. I am so impressed by her I had to tell her in front of the entire blogosphere.