10 Problems Every Type B Teacher Will Understand
If you read my blog, you might notice I am more of a Type-B teacher. One of my good friends, Karri from One Sassy Teacher is more on the Type-A teacher side. I can tell you this because we have worked together for about six years. She has been there from the start of my career, as she was my mentor teacher during my student teaching. Boy, she can tell you some funny stories! So, we decided to get a collaborative list of all the problems both Type-A and Type-B teachers understand about each other. You don’t have to pick a side if you are both. Just sit back, and enjoy the humor!
1. The need for detailed lesson plans is nonexistent.
I know I could get attacked here, but first, let me say that I still make lesson plans. I reluctantly create them every week. I just don’t use them. Ever. I literally don’t look at them all day. For most Type B teachers, we have systems. We also have a lot of teachable moments. My system is having my materials ready for me at the beginning of each day, and a curriculum map to guide my quarter. That is how I “lesson plan.”
2. Nothing stresses us out.
When you are dealing with multiple young children, things don’t always go your way. And that is okay. No stress here! We just let it happen, and address things as needed. If I have a student who has an outburst, I feel absolutely nothing. My blood pressure doesn’t even go up. Which can be a major plus for a us Type-B teachers.
3. Since when do we need to show up to a meeting 10 minutes early?
If a meeting starts at 3:00, I will be there at 2:58. I like to do human-like things like check my phone, go to the restroom, and collect my thoughts after the kids leave.
4. We are always running around to make copies.
I loathe the copy machine. Especially if it’s a dinosaur. We are always in the copy room interrupting your packets to copy that one sheet we really really need! Just thank us for saving the environment. And we become really good at working in our learning journals. Which is a higher level skill anyway.
5. We aren’t afraid to say what we think.
We have thoughts of our own, and sometimes we get heat for having an opinion. But we can’t help it!
5. We aren’t competitive. (I made a repeat, but let’s call this one 5b;)
I am not saying all Type-A teachers are competitive, but I’ve met a lot of them. We enjoy collaborating and we share openly. I will also add we don’t seek credit. In fact, we couldn’t care less.
6. We can engage in an activity during our break that is not related to school.
I can sit in my room during my lunch break and play on my phone. And I don’t feel bad that I am not prepping for the next week. During my breaks…Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, Twitter, and my personal email are all fair game.
7. Procrastination gets the best of us sometimes.
We still get stuff done;)
8. Meetings don’t stress us out.
In fact, I find myself reminding my team about human behavior, and how everybody is gung-ho at the beginning of the year and during meetings, but execution is an entirely different story. Most of the time, it’s never as bad as it sounds.
9. Planners don’t really work for us.
I actually purchased this exact planner on Amazon at the beginning of the year. When I eagerly opened the box, and swore to myself that I would use it. After “using” it for a week, and never saw it again. Type-B people have systems. For me, my list is a sticky note on my computer each day. I take what I have already crossed out and transfer the leftovers onto the next day. I don’t know why I thought I could stray from my system because it works for me! People don’t understand, but they don’t really have to as long as I have my stuff together.
10. You are well liked by most staff members.
People seek you out for help, and they enjoy your easy-goingness and sense of humor. You would be an asset to any faculty!
I hope you enjoyed my fun little post! If you have any other Type-B teacher quirks, please comment below! I would love to hear from you! Also, be sure to check out One Sassy Teacher’s Post on 10 Problems Every Type-A Teacher Understands.
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I am the Type B person on my grade level team of Type A colleagues! I bring snacks to all of our PD meetings. I wear jeans even when it is not Friday. I buy planners and binders but I don’t use them. I write plans but they often stay in my bookbag. I roll just like you…..and it works! Thanks for sharing this “real” slice of life post!
~Jennifer
Stories and Songs in Second
This is so me.
Is there a Type C teacher cause I think that’s me.
I find that as a Type B teacher, I’m not always appreciated by my Type A teammates because of my willingness to share my opinion. Lol! My mantra is “Ask forgiveness, not permission” and they are complete rule followers!
Sundays don’t really bother us because we enjoy flying by the seat of our pants on Monday!
Hahaha!! SO TRUE!
I really enjoyed reading this. I’m a bit like this, and some people won’t believe that you don’t react to other people’s meltdowns: it’s just that we have a very high EQ and understand the physics of adding to existing bad reactions…
One thing I would like clarification on though is, why do Americans say, “could care less”? It makes no sense – “couldn’t care less” is a double negative stating that you care so little, it’s not possible to not care more. Not a criticism of you! I notice it a lot in movies and novels. It’s just odd!
Post-its are the best invention ever!
Yes! I’m so happy to see all the positive comments on this post. I always think I’m the only one. One exception, I do get stressed out–mostly be schedules. Needing to follow a tight schedule stresses me out. In the past student outbursts have really stressed me out, but I was much better about it this year (possibly because there was less pressure to always be exactly on schedule.)
Describes me exactly.
Me too. I now have to follow one and I’m having a very hard time with it.
This list describes me perfectly, it’s just missing one thing, a not-so-neat classroom that, to untrained eye, is messy. However, those that know you well know you can locate anything in the classroom within seconds, no matter how much stuff is piled on top of it! 🙂
This is me, too! My piles are filled with great stuff inly I can find!
**only , not inly!
If only I didn’t feel like it was cheating to be having fun teaching!!!
Yes! I call it organized chaos! And post-it notes are the best system!
Post-it notes ARE my Planner.
Amen! I have piles but the kids have never cared. They have come back years later to visit me.
Exactly! Nobody goes near my desk or work area (best known as “that corner over there”) and absolutely no one touches any of “my piles” because I actually do know where everything is!
I thought I was the exception until I read this. What a great post. It’s like you are in my head! Thank you for sharing.
#9. Cracked me up. Bought a planner this year but really just use it to hold the post-it note where I scribble my daily to-do list.
Me too… Lots of post-it notes on the front of my planner, and I just take them off and replace them.. I never throw any away though.. I keep a stack of old post-it notes just in case I need to see the information again.. And I have had to many times… 😂
Our school gave us planners with every school event (already scheduled) listed and plenty of room for evening and weekend and lesson planning. I lost mine before preplanning ended. Maybe a type B? I do have ADHD. That makes things fun.
So I handle organized chaos just fine but I also have some Type A traits so I guess I am a A/B hybrid. And I am okay with that. 😁
I never take a pen or paper to staff meetings…you will be given multiple reminders or handouts of so called important info anyway, and you will never be asked to be a “recorder” for the group!
Those post-its, though! I have 12th grader who is my student assistant for one period of the day, and she organizes and consolidates all of the post-it notes that are strewn across my two desks and floating cart. Plus, all my kids know if they need me to do something in particular for one of them, they better right it on a sticky and slap it down 🤣
I’m definitely type B with a bit of type A. My planning periods are my time to get things done AND watch a little Netflix while I work. I’m a major multi-tanker. But I definitely identify with not planning! I plan but don’t need to really look at it- just do what needs to be done!
I’m definitely a type b as well! We need a support group!
Yes we do! We can wear tshirts that say, “I’m a Type B Personality Teacher and Proud of It!”
Oh, this is me, me, me! I always say I like to plan ahead, but I usually just “wing it.” My best lessons are the one I think up in the car on the way to school.
So true! I’m definitely type B and drive the type A people crazy! My best lessons are when I just let it happen or think it up in the shower! Thanks for sharing – and I’ll join the support group any time.
This is me exactly. My lesson plans are in my mad and I change them often. Not much stresses me out. I tried to be type A but its just not me
You described me to a tee!! I usually wind up feeling guilty for not being organized and color coded like my co workers. I know I am a good teacher. ….no lesson plans and all!
Thank you for sharing this with us. I have been under considerable stress attempting to cover up my type-B-ness!
I’m going to stop feeling guilty and relax. Every year our principal gives us a planner. I never use it, and feel so bad. That’s over, as of today!
This is me! It feels great to finally know that I am not alone. It has been my “dirty little secret”. Thank you for sharing.
I also am the type B teacher. My husband even calls me the “whatever” person. I’m laid back and take things as they happen and definitely most definitely pick my battles! I do not get mad easy and if I do, I’m over it quickly. I rarely look at my plans because I feel I know what to do daily, my structure is the same so the kids know too…this is how we do it. My desk is usually chaos.. I never sit at it anyway so why bother worrying over it. I also write on post its, however sometimes you will find it written on my hand so I don’t forget. Haha. Not sure that’s type B.
Yup 100% exact. Sometimes on Monday mornings before I leave I get asked what am I doing today, my usual reply is I will know when I get there. I have learned to turn off on me time. It’s good for my psychy. Makes me love what I do when I’m doing it.
Amen… I am with you on everything except competition…
I’m a type B! Good to know! I use http://www.planbook.com and it’s perfect for me. I can attach files, link websites, and treat it like an interactive post it note! Thanks for sharing your thoughts – glad to know I’m not the only one!
Ooooh looks useful…and keeps my attention. Thanks for sharing
I used Google calendar like that.
I can definitely relate.
Oh this is me too!!! I HATE writing out detailed lesson plans but love creating lessons. I wing it a lot too, so I just write a lesson outline of activities. Copies? Oh yeah, that’s last minute usually. It’s great having a student teacher, but sometimes I feel like I don’t do them justice bc of my Type-Bness. I’m always late to everything, but I try to be on time. Oh well, I’ve tried to be more Type-A and just couldn’t do it — misery for me. At least I know I’m a good teacher and have been recognized as such. For those of us, Type-Bers, we know what we are doing and ride the waves. It’s “funner” and stress can kill you, right?!?! So I’m good with it. Money says we all are.
Right onht-is helped me sort things right out.
Lucky you! I was a teacher for three years, just like this. My lesson plans and winging it caused me no end of abuse from administration, as did my “messy” classroom, my inability to use a planner, and my planning period relaxation. I knew I couldn’t do it anymore when I mentioned to a team member that I always seemed to be under fire for submitting lesson plans Sunday evenings instead of by the Friday afternoon due date, and she replied that she should probably start submitting hers, as she hadn’t in a couple of months. She never had a problem or complaint from administrators. This kind of “extra attention” from the APs and principal definitely destroyed my ability to remain unstressed. I’m truly jealous of you other type Bs that are successful.
Well I m type B but, I exhibit type A traits for visibility sake.. That’s how it works for me.. Wink wink
This is me except …a copy ‘for what?’ Just scan it in and project it on the Smart board or view it as a pdf on the computer. Jus sayn. ?Hooray to the Type B teachers!
I believe I am Type-C…a little of both! I like my lesson plans, I have on copious occasions taught in the moment especially when a teachable moment happens and abandoned my plans. I also don’t stress out about meetings but I am always early! I like my planner and never procrastinate! Lastly I do speak my mind. So is there a Type-C?
This is so me. I have tried the planner so many times and it has never worked for me. I use it for a week and a half and then ditch it. I like my to do lists and that is what works for me.
Awww! One thing I dudnt catch, is that many who fit this profile, are HIGHLY creative. We think on our feet, and can problem solve on a dime. Sonetimes we can tend to be messy. I have been called overly sensitive, but that could just be a ME thang….I didn’t misspell thang…. I hate planners, and I kinda hate computers too. Those little boxes are useless, and dont allow for spontaneous notations, and doodling. I also see little point in writing them out for others, who will NEVER offer any genuine feedback, or commentary on MY lesson plans.
I bought a planner AND a bullet journal….hahahahaha. I am also really bad at packing lunch. Last week I took a bag of string cheese, a pack of deli ham, and a jar of olives and just left it there for lunch.
Mirror, mirror on the wall…..yassssssss! Count me in! Twenty-two years of B wondering what was up with me. Yet all the time enjoying the fruit of my labor, so blessed to be valued as I do “me.” I knew it was working from a parent/student/admin standpoint….so why the self-imposed guilt? This article is SO freeing! On the Myers-Briggs personality profile, I am an ENFP. We laughed last week to read this quote: “Campaigners are not great fans of heavy hierarchy and bureaucracy…”….my type was the least likely to appreciate “standard formats” and compression of freedom! <3 Thank you for making the time to produce a work that is still reaping a harvest several years later!
I’m a type A, very type A, and have taught with B’s throughout my 40 year teaching career. I’ve never understood how the B’s worked. I guess we are all wired differently. I could never, ever go without my planner, coded in many colors! It’s my bible. I remember teaching kindergarten with a very good friend of mine whose desk looked like a tornado hit it, but she was the best teacher in the world! She was incredibly creative, which I am not. I am very strict, great classroom control, but with lots of fun thrown in, but I follow my lesson plans down to the letter! And for me, it’s not stressful at all. What would be stressful would b3 not having my plans!
I am type B, no type A even in one ounce of my blood. Hi everyone nice to know that others are out there.
I plan to get a full time teaching job next year. I say I am type ‘lmnop’ instead of B but I am worried my type A coworkers might murder me next year! Haha