u/Lower_Yogurt_1216

Hey guys. I’m a 6th year teacher, 2nd year at my current school. Right now I teach 5 sections of CP (“regular”) Algebra 2 and one section of Honors. Algebra 2 is 10th grade at my school, so these kids are mostly sophomores with a few freshmen who are a year ahead.

My Honors class specifically really do not like me. Last week I told them there was a good chance I’d teach many of them again next year and there was a collective groan/minor uproar. One of them said “if I walk in next year and you’re my teacher, I might drop out”. I found out from another student today that some people from this class are saying that I “can’t teach” and just complain about me to their peers who are in my other sections.

I don’t know why, but this is hitting me particularly hard this time. Having done this long enough, I know I’m always gonna have students who don’t like me or don’t gel with my teaching style. This has never really bothered me before. But something about hearing it collectively from a whole group like that, and hearing specifically that kids are saying I can’t teach is really getting to me.

I really do know, in my brain, that it’s not a me thing. It’s definitely a vocal minority and there are plenty of students even in the Honors section who don’t talk this way and who are finding the class just fine. I know I’m good at my job. I could be better, of course, and I definitely have lessons that don’t go great sometimes. But I really do try my best to teach in a way that is both rigorous and digestible. And the fact that this seems to be isolated to the Honors section specifically makes me think a lot of is that they don’t like that it’s challenging. Many of these kids have never taken honors math before, and Algebra 2 can be difficult for a lot of students.

There are two halves of me here. One half that knows that I’m not in this to be liked, not in this to be the “cool teacher,” I’m here to teach them math and with that comes holding them to high standards, and some students are not going to gel with that and might push back. I know I don’t need affirmation from teenagers. And then there’s the half that’s human, that does not like to hear that I am bad at one of the things I think I’m best at.

I know I shouldn’t take it personally, but it’s hard not to let it hurt my feelings.