Advice plz!
I'm soft. I'm emotional. Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me. We're human. Its hard to not let some of these kids get to you. But how do I be soft and still hold firm to my expectations? How do I be a safe space for kids without them running all over me? How do I encourage them to do better when they don't want to listen? How do I show them that I want to listen to them but that doesn't mean they get to do what they want?
I teach 7th grade. This is the end of my 3rd year. Every year I feel like I've grown and learned. But every year I feel like it isn't enough. At the end of each year, I always feel drained and that I didnt do enough or that I didnt make an impact. I always end up having a handful of kids who have issues with me. Or I dont handle things correctly and get into power struggles. I have kids push buttons. But how am I supposed to let the bad behavior continue without intervening?
I'm struggling and don't know what to do. Maybe its my classroom management. Maybe I just need to be more strict...? Idk man. I'm trying to learn and grow but I always feel like its not enough