Stress level dropping...dropping...dropping....
We had a meeting Friday afternoon. We think we hashed out the schedule for next year. According to this new schedule, I'll be teaching sixth grade only next year, Reading and Social Studies. Currently, I'm teaching Reading, English Language Arts and Social Studies to sixth and seventh. I got exactly what I requested.
I know, I know. I've been really excited about teaching 8th grade Georgia Studies next year. And I prefer the seventh grade World Studies curriculumn over the sixth grade. But let's look at this practically. If I teach sixth grade again, it'll be my third year through the curriculumn, which is how long it takes a teacher to master a curriculumn. I could actually be good at my job next year.
Also, I have been teaching our current sixth and seventh graders for two years now. I don't think I can take a third year. We're WAY too comfortable with each other. Also, they first had me during my first year of teaching. They still treat me like a first year teacher. I still like those kids, but I can't teach them anymore.
Having Reading on my schedule again means I get to do block schedule. This will be great. I'll get to keep doing novel studies that relate to social studies. I'll get to keep teaching the reading strategies that help the kids do better in social studies. They'll be bringing in a writing teacher, who will "push in" to my classes and handle the ELA piece.
After this meeting, my stress level has plumented. I had no idea how much of my stress was coming from the thought of floundering through a new curriculumn next year with the same kids that are making me batty now. I get to start more or less over again next year.
I know, I know. I've been really excited about teaching 8th grade Georgia Studies next year. And I prefer the seventh grade World Studies curriculumn over the sixth grade. But let's look at this practically. If I teach sixth grade again, it'll be my third year through the curriculumn, which is how long it takes a teacher to master a curriculumn. I could actually be good at my job next year.
Also, I have been teaching our current sixth and seventh graders for two years now. I don't think I can take a third year. We're WAY too comfortable with each other. Also, they first had me during my first year of teaching. They still treat me like a first year teacher. I still like those kids, but I can't teach them anymore.
Having Reading on my schedule again means I get to do block schedule. This will be great. I'll get to keep doing novel studies that relate to social studies. I'll get to keep teaching the reading strategies that help the kids do better in social studies. They'll be bringing in a writing teacher, who will "push in" to my classes and handle the ELA piece.
After this meeting, my stress level has plumented. I had no idea how much of my stress was coming from the thought of floundering through a new curriculumn next year with the same kids that are making me batty now. I get to start more or less over again next year.