I know that one reason I started this blog was to track my career changes and by goly there have been many! I have been so busy with said career changes and haven't had much time to document, so here's my attempt at that... It's one of those things that if I wait much longer there will be SO much to say that I won't be able to get it all in...
So August Professional Development-
The 18 days that my staff and I spent together was invaluable. We got to know one another personally and we started setting up the structure for how iTech would operate. Not many times in ones career do they really get to develop something from the ground up, we mainly start in an existing community of professionals. What a great experience!
Start of school year-
Back to school nights, curriculum night, first projects, meeting the students, all amazing! I truly love middle schoolers. Sure they're quirky, and goofy, but they are also loveable, sarcastic and for the most part, can do what I tell them to do... even it still takes as many times to tell them as it does elementary kids.
I teach 6 courses, one section each of our other 'content experts' as I shall call my colleagues. This has been quite the endeavor in many ways. I equated myself to being a long term sub in many ways. I needed to stay on track with them and give similar learning experiences because when the kids get mixed up next year and we're in a 3 year cycle, I need the kids to have had common learning experiences. I found two courses that this was working great for- English and World studies. Naturally I enjoy these topics being a booky type person. Additionally, I have my prep periods on those days so if I had a point of confusion, I could just quickly ask for clarification. Two courses I started just kind of traversing my own road- PE/Health and Global forum. This turned out to be quite easy because the kids I was working with were AMAZING. A great group of students who made it a delight to craft projects that would naturally pique their interest. My biggest challenge became Math and Science. I have always been naturally good at doing math, but not necessarily the best math teacher. I used the curriculums for both math and science and then I would consult the internet for further tips when needed. This was challenging for me because I couldn't seem to get a step ahead, in fact I always felt a step behind or to the side, oy!
I am proud that I try to diligently use my preps to get things ready (I notoriously frittered my time away at elementary chit chatting!) I really do love the creative outlet here at iTech and I know that I can do great work, if I am given the time to get it ready. I just am starting to crack a bit with the stress of planning 6 periods well!
Now we're almost at the end of October-
Conferences are this week, hooray! It will be a different experience because I will just wait at a table and if parents would like to talk to me about something specific, they just come sit down or wait for me to be available. This is freeing in a sense because it puts the responsibility back onto parents to come check in, but it's also stressful because there's no way to be prepared except to be ready for anything ?!
Good news about that whole 6 courses to teach thing...
As of Monday the 29th, I will be reduced down to just 3 different courses. I will still teach 6 classes, but it will be 1 English, 1 World Studies, and 4 Global Forum. This is SOOO amazing! I am bummed about a few things... 1- the circumstances that this position was available- one of our staff members has decided to work only part time which means I won't see her. 2- I had to give up my PE/Health section as well and that was a GREAT group. I still have them for global forum, but I did have that group for basically half the day. I am so looking forward to what it will actually be like to prep materials for a class and teach the same thing over and over. What a great idea :)
Additional Tidbits of greatness--
The kids at iTech are all great- not just geeky video-gamey kids like one might expect, (sure we have those too) but genuinely interested kids, willing to dig in and try
I love my staff. Its always a risk to jump out into a new job where you're not sure if you'll fit in, but I really feel like I can connect with everyone on some level or another.
Our school is so small that it's like a little second home. There are only 120 students this first year at the middle school so I know almost everyone (I will know everyone now that my schedule is changing)
We have a rockwall to access and I have already used it with 60 kids on one of our C schedule days
This whole A/B schedule thing is like second nature now.
80 minute periods are just right, we can get down and into a project, and leave before getting bored with our work
Our families rock, when we ask, they deliver! whether it's snacks, glue guns, or dinner for the staff for conferences
We have already showcased our students in the community painting sundials at elementary schools, showing projects at Harvest Fun Days, and we've been in the newspaper when an engineer came to talk to students about careers (HS only on that last one)
Well that's about all my brain can think of for now. I will try to give an update at least every other month.... :)
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