Shocking, encouraging, mystifying, frightening, horrifying. All words that can be used to describe this book. Chock full of short stories and observations on teaching. I thought that I had seen a lot in my own career, but holy smokes, teaching is something else! After reading this, I have a whole new level of respect for teachers. Out-of-control students, demanding or uncaring parents, and little to no support from administration; it's all in here. I honestly do not know how teachers can keep their sanity, much less their jobs. A really good read! I have already recommended this book to several teaching friends.

What It’s Really Like is a must read for everyone, but especially for teachers. No one truly understand the toll the job of an educator unless it’s another educator. Our tribe understands and sees how motivational and demotivational the job is. To help us not feel alone Jane Morris has collected and shared these stories of triumph and misery in What It’s Really Like. You’ll laugh, relate, and get angry at these stories, because they are true! These stories happen in our buildings in their own way, which is what makes What It’s Really Like a must read!

A blog compilation about one of the world's most entertaining professions. We often talk about how teachers don't get enough credit for all they do, and this book confirms that. Reading this will make you want to hug every one of your teachers (and if you're a parent, it will make you wonder, "Was that my kid???")

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What It's Really Like by Jane Morris is compilation of teacher true confessions. I love the format - short stories, texts & emails - makes it easy to read and keeps it interesting. Most of the entries cracked me up - a few had me shaking my head over the ridiculousness of today's education system and some just absolutely broke my heart :( It's insane to KNOW that these crazy things happen - that parents expect ONE person (and its not them...) to be everything to their child and not support them at the same time???, that administrators do whatever they have to do just to placate those with the biggest mouths (generally the same parents that don't PARENT) and the unrealistic expectations that the "state" puts on tests and progress Our education system needs a serious overhaul - teachers should be able to TEACH. This is a great book for any parent of a school aged child - and any legislator that has the POWER to control what goes on in the schools :( My niece is a school teacher, as is my best friend - and I will be sharing this book with them.
I was given this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was hilarious! An interesting snapshot of the bizarre, heartwarming, hilarious, dangerous and difficult job teachers do and what they are faced with daily in their classrooms. I loved the format of short stories mixed with insane emails from helicopter parents and students and emails from the unsupportive admins. I laughed out loud countless times and have a new appreciation for the profession!

This book was brilliantly hilarious and gave good insights to teaching, an understated profession! I laughed at a lot of the moments, got angry at others, and felt touched with the successes. I loved it.

This was a compilation of blog entries from the author of "Teacher Misery." It was a quick and easy read. I didn't really learn anything new about how bad teachers have it--like many professions, they have to deal with pressure and criticism from their customers (kids and parents) and bosses (administrators). I applaud those who stick with it, it really is too bad teachers aren't better paid when they do such an important job. 3 stars for being a nonchallenging read that was entertaining although, sorry to say, not enlightening. Thanks to NetGalley for copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Wow! I've never read a more "true" book about what it's like to be an educator. So many of these stories resonated with me, and I found myself laughing aloud through several of the anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and recommend it for any educator or someone looking to get a glimpse into what being in the classroom is "really like."

I will always give Teacher Misery five stars, as I know the outlandish stories that appear to be “to good to be true” are actually heartbreakingly true. I laughed out loud and cackled with glee as I read some of these stories, only because I myself have experienced them as a seasoned teacher. If you’re thinking about becoming a teacher, have a child in school, or just interested in the educational movement happening in the US, pick up this book.

This is a great book that everyone needs to read. Whether you are a parent of a child with a teacher or working in the field yourself you will be able to relate to these stories in one way or another.
I think many people who read this will be wondering “does that really happen or are they exaggerating?” As a employee of a school division I can tell you those some of these stories seem outrageous or disturbing they do happen!
This is a great story that everyone should read. I constantly hear those in the education field be downplayed or they are “payed too much@ but this shows how the job impacts everything in your life and you have to have a calling to do it.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Jane Morris' book about what it's like to be a teacher is so true to life. I taught 28 years before retirement. Nothing written in the book surprised me. I have some anecdotes of my own.
After I moved to another state, I went back to visit co-workers at the first school. At our get-togethers, someone would say, "Remember when Audrey opened the door..." That sentence was never finished because we all burst out laughing.
While teaching, I often said, "if students want to have sex at school in the middle of the day, they can and will find a time and place."
Students, parents, and worst of all administrators are those who teachers have to cope with. Even though I'm a fourth-generation teacher, I told my own children not to become teachers. Jane Morris makes me realize again how happy I am to be retired.

I LOVED this book. I need to go buy Morris's two other books immediately because I flew through this. As a teacher, I've never read anything so relatable. I just kept thinking, "YES! They get it!". The stories are this book are something else entirely. They made me cry with laughter, but some just made me cry, they were so heartwarming. This book has it all, the stories that make you want to stay, and those that make you want to never walk into a school again. There were stories in this book that blew my mind, and honestly gave me an even deeper appreciation (if it's even possible) for teachers. Some enraged me, some touched my heart. Teachers and non-teachers alike should read this book to honestly see, what it is really like.

What It's Really Like is a collection of classroom stories from teachers around the country. It includes stories covering grades K-12 that are gross, outrageous, aggravating, funny, and heartwarming, though not really all at the same time. I found it to be a fairly enjoyable read because like a box of chocolates, it kept you guessing what you were going to get next. Besides stories, it also contains clips of emails, text messages, and real drawings done by students which were all funny and relevant.

The beginning of the book took me a while to get into because most of the first stories were about poop. At first I wondered, "Do people really touch their own poop this much?" and as the poop stories kept coming it felt like a ploy for shock value. I almost put the book down thinking it would all be like that, but I guess it was just to get all those out of the way. The description of the book also mentioned the story about a "kid who humps a desk" and I dreaded coming up to that because it sounded so much worse than it was. I don't think it was necessary to include that one in the book's blurb because while it could sound outrageous, that story fell really flat and was neither shocking or funny. There are so many others they could have mentioned.

The most disturbing parts of the book weren't poo or pee but the way these teachers were treated by their administration, and also by horny teenagers. From what I've heard from teacher friends these were all accurate portrayals of what teachers have to go through. There was a lot of profanity in this book as well. While it didn't bother me too much, sometimes it seemed excessive and unnecessary, and I could see it turning a few people off.

I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed that this book was a mix of Jane's own stories and commentary and stories submitted by teachers. It made me feel lucky to be working in a school where I couldn't imagine most of the administration horrors that are described. While the intended audience is teachers it would do the public good to read and really understand what pressure cookers we work in every day. I don't know how it got this bad, but it won't change without people taking the sides of teachers to do what's best for students.

I am an avid follower of her Instagram account. Many of the stories have previously been posted, but there was enough new content to be worth the read.

This didn't really do much for me, didn't really find it funny and there were a couple of bits about the American education system that I didn't understand

This was a fantastic collection of stories and anecdotes from a variety of teachers! As a teacher myself, I could completely relate to many of the stories. Some were heartbreaking, others infuriating and some hilarious. I really enjoyed this book!

Wowee. This book is funny, not in a good way. Hearing the stories makes me want to cry. The abuse these teachers deal with is outrageous. What is crazy is these children are growing to be adults and where will out country be??!!!
Great book.

Thanks to author,publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free,it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I laughed so much at most of these stories and for some I think I am still recovering from the shock of them- maybe more than the teachers who experienced them, and there are those that make you stop and question the little things we do that impact children negatively.
So, it's an all-round book and a part of me couldn't help but wonder what the tales would be around the world and not just one country...I wonder...
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

Joan Morris has written and compiled a wonderful selection of the good, bad and ugly of the profession of teaching. From the students who touch the heart to the ones who make you crazy and sad- she has them all. This book truly gives you an appreciation for how rewarding, challenging, and sometimes terrifying teaching can be. Great read!

This hilarious, sometimes disturbing, collection of stranger-than-fiction accounts from teachers all over had me laughing so hard I almost cried. Dear parents who told your child that Pepito beat mom because he was bad in school, you are parenting goals. To the typical bad parents, the “not my kid” parents, the “this is your job” parents, you are the reason teachers drink. Maybe work on that a tad because your teachers don’t want to deal with this, they’re not paid enough to deal with this, and the rest of the world doesn’t want to deal with your darling when he/she is released into society as an incapable adult.

To the teachers who tolerate this kind of nonsense and keep coming back for more, I salute you!