I'm starting my 5th year of teaching, but it is the 1st time that I actually feel the positive affects of repeating a grade with very similar scope & sequence of units in subject areas! I cannot believe how much better I am teaching! Imagine how great I would be if I were able to continue to teach and improve the units for a few more years!!!
I was recently explaining how wonderful it felt to a co-worker, and she mentioned how teachers should be contracted to stay in the same grade for several years when they are hired into a position. I think I agree with her. I spent the last few months fearing an unwanted move to another grade. I knew it would cause me to spend hours and hours and hours trying to figure everything out again. And in all the time I'd spend starting over, my students would feel it. Luckily, I wasn't moved. :)
So far, the year has started out busy. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, plus I'm working by myself this year. This is the last week I'll allow myself to work late at school. Starting next Monday, I'm only going to allow myself to stay until 5 at the latest and only on a few days - not all 5! I'm also going to work to share more postings on here. I'd like to post ideas for the classroom, management, and instruction. These ideas are most likely not only my own. Teaching is a constant collaboration with others and often trial and error to find out what actually works for you as a teacher. So, although I am posting about what works for me, I am also not taking credit for coming up with the idea/strategy/lesson all by myself! Now, let's just hope I give myself time & energy for these posts!
