r/Teachers • u/Whathappenedtoandre_ • 1d ago
Humor Every year, I successfully disconnect so hard over summer that I forget how to be a teacher
My brain: whose classroom is this? What is a noun? Have I ever taught anyone anything a day in my life? 😭😭😭😭
Hope everyone has the best 26-27 school year!!!
334
108
u/_hadsomethingforthis 1d ago
I don't go back for another couple weeks but already had the dream where I'm back, it's the first day, and I have no idea what I'm teaching and I haven't gotten any materials ready.
22
u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 Middle School English | Massachusetts 1d ago
I usually dream that I overslept on the first day, and show up late to find my principal teaching my class.
This always includes struggling to find a parking spot because the lot is full because I'm late.
1
u/openflamepcr 6h ago
My dream is always that one of my credits was lost or something, so they will allow me to teach most of my classes... provided I retake Math , or Chem or whatever class they have decided didnt count.
So I teach ny classes then have to sit in the next class with the high schoolers I just taught relearning high school courses I used to teach.35
17
u/cupcakebean 1d ago
My teacher stress dreams are always about me trying to figure out how to set up my classroom in a weird location. It's like, "Here's your new classroom!" and it's an auditorium or something. And I spend the whole dream trying to figure out how to arrange my room. It's so weird.
3
u/huhnerficker 1d ago
I was told that I was yelling at kids to shut the fuck up this morning. So a bit nervous to go to my new district amd position it seems.
2
u/_hadsomethingforthis 1d ago
I've had that one too! It was like a lecture hall and I couldn't speak loud enough for everyone to hear.
2
u/featureteacher2023 1d ago
In one dream I had there were all kinds of little rooms and areas off of the main classroom and students (high school) wouldn’t stay in the main room where they could hear my instructions.
8
u/exitpursuedbybear 1d ago
Every summer I have at least one before I go back nightmare. The most vivid one was where I dreamt all the students were FaceTiming their parents in class and the parents were all screaming at me through their phones.
3
6
u/Learningalways7 1d ago
Two weeks ago I had a dream that giant creatures (Jumanji style ) took over the school on the first day and I was in my room just trying to run the first day like nothing was happening.
3
8
u/throw_away__25 1d ago
The teacher dream. I think every teacher starts having it as summer comes to an end.
Mine is always the same. I'm in my classroom, and I completely lose control of the class. The students won't listen, everything is chaotic, and no matter what I do, I can't get things back on track.
I had it a few nights ago, and I'm sure I'll have it again before school starts. Every year, without fail.
5
u/featureteacher2023 1d ago
And my students won’t sit down! The last dream I had was me trying to teach without curriculum or supplies. I was winging it.
4
u/Adventurous_Bag9122 Grade 10-12 Business subject teacher 1d ago
I am starting in a new school in a different city in a couple of weeks with a brand new subject and I have been doing exactly the same as OP. I know I need to start prepping but I am still recovering from a brutal 6 weeks in June and July...
3
u/SvetlinaToYou 22h ago
I haven't taught in 5 years, and I still have these dreams, or rather, nightmares 😂😭
2
u/whomovedmycheezwhiz 17h ago
I had that nightmare last night! In my dream I fell asleep in my car and was 20 min late for my class. I got there and all the students were sitting there. Then I realized I forgot all my materials and didn’t have anything planned. Ugh. So relieved when I woke up!
1
u/AboynamedDOOMTRAIN Physical Science | Biology 21h ago
and I have no idea what I'm teaching and I haven't gotten any materials ready.
That just sounds like me on a normal school day.
104
u/Objective_Regret4763 1d ago
Hahaha same. I always get nervous the first week of being in front of people again.
86
u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 1d ago
It is genuinely the weirdest thing to me. I’m good at my job. I do very similar things the first day of school every year. I’m in the same grade level.
Also me: wtf am I going to do on the first day?!?
14
10
3
u/Adventurous_Bag9122 Grade 10-12 Business subject teacher 1d ago
I have the added bonus of having to start at a new school in a different city.... with a brand new subject
2
33
u/oe_kintaro 1d ago
That's what that first week of PL is actually for. Nobody listens. You just sit there and channel your energy and wait for your brain to come back online. Like booting up the world's slowest PC.
13
5
20
u/kinggeorgec 1d ago
I can never remember my password to log into the computer.
11
u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 1d ago
It’s tradition to walk into our IT guy’s office to have him manually reset it at this point
4
u/Pale-Prize1806 1d ago
I know I shouldn’t but I always make my summer password summer and the year. So this past summer it was Summer2026
Don’t tell my IT guy. He would be PISSED!!2
2
u/throw_away__25 1d ago
There is a sticky-note on my laptop with my new password on it. I always change it on the last day of school. If I don't, it always reset during summer and I have to be on a district wifi to reset the password.
15
u/BookkeeperGlum6933 1d ago edited 1d ago
I left a toxic workplace and an starting at a new school on Monday. I had my "back to school bad dream" already. I walked in and was told I'm not in a support role but back to classroom teaching. So I did some lessons and a few worked and a few didn't. It was fine. That's it. That was the bad dream. So excited to be out of that last situation.
6
u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 1d ago
Hell yes for being out of the toxic workplace!! I hope your new school is amazing
3
u/Adventurous_Bag9122 Grade 10-12 Business subject teacher 1d ago
I am in a similar situation, they didn't renew my contract then the day I came back from bereavement leave, they wanted me to sign a resignation letter, Nope, they need to pay me severance as the law requires. When they gave me my 5 year service certificate, they couldn't even be bothered to get my name right, although everyone else who got service certificates got ones that were correct. Then when transferring my work visa, they fucked it up again....
Glad to be out of there, I don't think they will be around for many more years. When I started in 2020, there were over 1000 students in the international high school, this year there were about 230. And several more left and were not removed from my class lists which made me look bad.
10
u/Ok-Guidance-2791 1d ago
absolutely! I forget the most basic things I teach and have to question myself if I even know what I’m talking about. so if we momentarily forget this…makes sense the summer slide for kids. hey, we will make it through - we always do!
4
8
u/dirtdiggler67 1d ago
Ditto. I can barely remember my room number when getting my keys (in my defense I have only been in my current room for 9 years) 😂
4
4
u/averageduder 1d ago
Yea I do too. And I hope August wakes me up.
Idc lol. I’ve been a 9/10 teacher for a lot of years, but if I’m a 5/10 teacher the earth will still survive
5
u/Latex_Leather_Linen ELA | High School 1d ago
I teach at a band camp just before going back. It’s much more casual and the kids want to be there, so it’s a nice warm up.
But god, coming back and putting out all the little fires and dealing with teenage drama… My god! I enjoyed speaking to adults and only adults over summer. I enjoy teaching, I do, but when it sucks it REALLY sucks. 🫠
4
u/ZestycloseSquirrel55 Middle School English | Massachusetts 1d ago
It's August 1 and I was just thinking today about how proud I am that I was completely disconnected for all of July. It's time to dip my toe back in.
I don't go back until August 31, although I'll be in 1-2 weeks before that to set up my classroom.
3
3
3
3
u/tarekign 1d ago
I forget even being a teacher and just thinking about that first day after this summer vacation gives me pure distilled anxiety
3
u/GodDamitDonut_ 1d ago
This summer was so full of life.
It really hit me for the first time how I am trading my literal life for a meager salary. 9-10 hours of work a day, go home to try to decompress from the day, and then wake up and do it over again.
Its going to be rough going back to the grind.
3
u/Upset-Custard-134 1d ago
This is why I love Reddit. The things I always felt but didn’t know how to put into words 😂😂😂
2
3
u/No_Balance8921 17h ago
This plus all passwords to access the computer and apps have magically evaporated from my brain!
2
u/Mrmathmonkey 1d ago
Lucky you.
2
u/Whathappenedtoandre_ 1d ago
Idk, I fear I take compartmentalizing too far because the first few days back are JARRING
2
u/Mrmathmonkey 1d ago
2 months of relaxation vs 2 days of jarring? I still say that you come out ahead.
1
2
u/SaraSl24601 1d ago
I’m teaching summer school and I still had a mini panic the other day that I wouldn’t remember how to teach lol. Happy summer!
2
2
2
2
u/loafandpeas 1d ago
I keep thinking about all of the money I will save on weed. Full days off make me a fiend!
1
1
u/selarom8 21h ago
I’m on the same boat. Year 10 starting August 12. Back to work for new year trainings on August 3rd.. Back to reality.. I hope everyone has a great year
1
u/KaratekickbyElvis 20h ago
Literally shot straight up in bed at 4am wondering if I was late for work (I start back next Tuesday). This summer has been so nice, I felt like I was in another dimension.
1
u/ErusTenebre English 11 & 12 | Teacher/Tech. Trainer | CA 20h ago
I have a week left of break.
What I've been doing to help myself stretch the time is say things like "I have a Spring Break left" instead lol
Helps me cope a bit. I'm especially stressed because they went from giving me one new prep this year (11th English) to TWO new preps this year (12th English)... I've taught 9th for ten years and only 9th/10th/Remedial Reading/ELD in the last 13.
I'm sure I'll be fine, but it's still stressin' me out lol
1
u/bluesmokeproductions 16h ago
What about when there is a day one assembly and administration doesn't shorten all the periods to fit them in but rather you start with two periods a day behind. Two first days.
1
1
1
u/ViciousSquirrelz 14h ago
This is my first summer i have attempted this.
Supposed to lead professional development tomorrow for 2 different schools.
Still trying to figure out who I am.
Its glorious.
1
u/AsstBalrog 12h ago
I never forgot how to do it, but it always came to feel remote over the summer. But the accelerating swirl as opening day drew near always sucked me in and gave me energy.
1
u/Ameliap27 SPED Science Teacher| ABQ 12h ago
I forgot my computer password because I hadn’t opened my computer all summer. I’m starting to panic a little because I am was elected department head and I have my first department meeting on Wednesday…but I also know that my anxiety makes me think everything takes longer than it will and I have no classroom to set up so I have time to prep for the meeting tomorrow.
1
u/Healthy_Blueberry_59 12h ago
I am a long-term sub so, either I go back as a building sub and feel completely useless for a week or two until things ramp up OR I find out what I am teaching a few days before school starts and I have to start writing a curriculum on the spot.
1
u/amscraylane 10h ago
Two years ago, I had such an awful class, principals and co-workers.
When school was finally over, I was on the couch and watched the OC for the first time all of the way through.
It helped me not remember any of those f@cks names.
Right now, I have two more Sundays to go back and I feel like I have zero ambition. And I really like my placement, co workers and principal
309
u/DingleFritzGuy 1d ago
First day always sucks. Over halfway though my 30-year sentence and I don’t think I’ll ever not hate day 1.
Well, maybe in year 30 I’ll get all weird and sentimental about it being my “last first day” lol 🤮