Who has time to be in the teacher's lounge? Haven't been there is years and I don't think my school has one anymore!

I feel that teachers are too busy sometimes and that it is true that many of them do not even go in there because they are too busy with everything else.

During my first year of teaching I visited the teachers lounge often. It was a great place to chat with my fellow teachers and hear about their day. I could run my problems by several teachers and gain support or new ideas. I love the teachers lounge. However, this year I have not frequented the lounge so much. I found I liked to eat lunch in my classroom so I could work on other things. This got to be to lonely, so I have started to go back on a few days a week. It is nice to visit with other teachers and it is sometimes nice to have the piece and quiet of my classroom.

A lot of the teachers in the lounge do complain about one thing or another, but usually we guide each towards solutions or resources to help. Not so much gossip anymore, which is really nice. I tried not to get involved with that.

I think if our teacher's room looked like the one in the image on the page I'd visit it more often. Granted our teacher's room is nice enough but I feel I can get more work done right in my own classroom. I don't think I have ever had time beyond my first year teaching to just visit the teacher's room just because. My school did really make our room nice recently painting it a nice calming blue and adding chairs and tables but I'm lucky enough to have my own room. Besides that, everyone in the teacher's room is busy on the computer or making copies, etc. I guess it's a nice place to go and hide if you want to be low key.

This is my first year teaching and the only time I've been in the teacher's lounge was to get the eggs out of the refrigerator for the egg drop contest during family science night. There is no time during the day to sit and chat.

I was appointed a mentor for a first year teacher this past school year and I advised her to STAY OUT of our teacher's lounge. For some reason at my school, such negative people dwell in that lounge, and even if you are just running through to use the bathroom, the negativity in the room seems to bring you down. Whenever I said something to try and pick these negative people up, they would make comments like, "What are you so happy about?", "Oh, you have energy because you are young" or "wait until you have kids." I really get upset when people say things like this to me. Granted, I don't have children of my own yet, but I can't imagine that when I do I'll be that negative about teaching and education. I believe it is good to talk with collegues, but I think maybe a teacher should take into consideration who those collegues are. I feel it is a good idea to stay close with your positive collegues who can help you grow as a teacher instead of making everyone around them miserable!

I agree about the negativity but I think they are also very important. I think listening to others, sharing problems, working on solutions, etc. is important.

I ate lunch in the teacher's lounge my first year teaching. The only reason I go there now is to attend union meetings and to occassionally use the vending machine. I try to always remain optimistic about teaching and some teachers just suck all the optimism right out of you. If I need help/suggestions I rather visit people personally.

My principal has turned our teacher's lounge into a wonderful place to relax, mingle, and share ideas. Very rarely does anyone come in complaining or gossiping. We find other places to do that outside of school. I feel that "venting" to other teachers is very important in releasing stress. I would rather vent and seek advice from other teachers, rather than take it home with me. Some may say that is wrong, but that seems to be working for those who teach in my school.

After teaching in two small private schools and having nothing but uplifting words spoken in our "lounge" I was shocked when I stepped foot into the lounges of the public schools. As a sub I travel to many schools in our district. I have found that teacher lounges are not always friendly places. There are only a few that I will go in every time I am in the building. Often, I use the lounge as a place to network but when I walk in and hear grumbling and complaining I really don't want to come back to that school. Oh the other hand I have 3 schools where I love to go to because the teachers are upbeat, encouraging, and happy. Negative words are not spoken. Life is too short and often hard but we don't need to spread negativity on our jobs. We can always find things to gripe about but there are always joys to share as well. As professionals I believe that we need to share the joys of teaching, maybe then the negatives not seem so negative.
If you have nothing nice to say please stay out of the lounges.