LAUGH
We love our teacher friends to pieces. Often, they are the ones who get us up in the morning and keep us coming back every single day. We would be lost without our teacher besties cheering us on and picking us up when we fall. That said, our colleagues are just like family members who can make us absolutely out of our minds, bonkitty bonkers. Here are 15 common annoyances teachers sometimes exhibit that can drive us crazy, and I mean that most respectfully.
1. Brag about test scores
We all know teachers who will squeeze in their standardized test scores in any topic of conversation.
Me: How are you today?
High Scoring Teacher: I am doing great after I saw my MAP test scores last month.
2. Pretend to be the administrator
We have enough bosses trying to micromanage everything we do and say. We do not need our fellow colleagues reprimanding us for not doing something a certain way: their way.
3. Going on an unsolicited political tirade
I’m sorry, Mr. Brown; I am just here to copy some worksheets. Hearing about everything the President is doing to hurt the country at 7 in the morning is a little heavy for me; I prefer light convo at that time.
4. Talk down to students
I know many sincere teachers who refer to their students as “kiddos” and “littles”; that’s wonderful. But many times these expressions come from insincere teachers and administrators trying to use a term of endearment to make up for the fact that they really don’t like children. News flash: Kids can tell the difference.
5. Criticize other teachers for leaving early or staying late
Who made you the Keeper of Time? This kind of negativity will drive you crazy.
Some teachers can get their work done within school hours, and some teachers prefer to stay late and not be rushed. Both can be effective and great teachers.
6. Make an entire month’s worth of copies at peak copying time
Nothing drives teachers more crazy than a major hold up with the copier right before class starts. The half-hour before school starts is crunch time. If you are copying for an entire month ahead, please save it for after the procrastinators, like me, have left for the day.
7. Blame past teachers for a student being behind
Parent: How is Johnny doing?
Present Teacher: He’s doing much better this year, as I have no idea what they did in that classroom last year. I will get him up to speed in no time, so you can just call me the Miracle Worker.
8. Kiss up to admin
I get it; the administrators love you because you bring them coffee every morning. I prefer to focus on the students, not the adults.
9. Ask a question at the end of a staff meeting
Here is a tip: Go up to admin after the meeting ends and ask the question that only pertains to you then. It will go over much better.
10. Burn popcorn in the staff lounge (or heat fish)
These smells can be detected by the neighbor that lives around the block from the school. Please be cognizant of our noses and the fact that we take refuge in the staff lounge.
11. Reply All
This has been annoying since the early ’90s. I think teachers are frankly doing it on purpose at this point in time.
12. Disrespect Teacher Assistants
Instructional assistants are the lifeblood of the school, and we love them. But there are some teachers who talk down to them because their instructional assistants have not obtained a college degree. There is no room for power trippers as we truly need our teacher assistants.
13. Steal from the teacher workroom
The office staff labels the good scissors with a black Sharpie and tapes them to the table with a string, but someone still manages to steal them with the string attached. I am surprised the table is not dragged behind them.
14. Tell on others
Who wants to look over their shoulder to make sure “Tattletale Tammy” isn’t hearing our conversation about not having our lesson plans done? We know she will be knocking over children on her way to the office to tell administration.
15. Being toxically positive or negative
There is a happy medium between positivity and negativity. We cannot ignore everything that bothers us about our colleagues and school environment; it is not healthy. It is also not healthy to take things way too seriously and not find the joy in the little things.
There will be people who say this article is not helpful to teachers. I say it is great to laugh at ourselves once in a while. Let’s just be real; we can all drive our coworkers crazy, and I will be the first to admit it. Expressing it in a light and humorous way can take away the pent-up anger over annoyances that we feel, and that, my friends, is healing.
