Jeff shares:
I need some advice about how to proceed with my school to do what is best for students and for me.
Our program has grown since I began teaching here. We are the second largest language to Spanish, although far from reaching it. We really need another teacher, but our district is not keen on hiring help. We have two high schools and one middle school. We have 5 classes at each high school and two at the middle school. We teach levels 1-5. I am supposed to meet with my admins next week about how to solve this problem so that I am not teaching 6 periods, 5 preps, and traveling between buildings.
I don’t see any solution beyond hiring someone new, but I’m not sure they are open to that. Do you have ideas that would help make my life easier, but would also be best practice for the kids? The prep is the most difficult thing. If I just use story scripts all year, then it’s not so bad, but that’ll only work for levels 1 and maybe half of 2. After this year, I will have some of my own stuff and Bob and his posse have shared with me and I could use that. Six classes and travelling is still demanding.
One idea that I had was to change the levels from 1-5 to something based on proficiency with 3 levels, like novice low-novice mid, novice mid-novice high, intermediate. low-mid. The divisions are not hard in stone. I’m just thinking. However, I’m not sure I want to offer this as a solution because I’m not sure it’ll help me load. It’ll just allow my district to keep making me do more work than every other teacher in the building.
I would appreciate any help or ideas. If the blog can help, I welcome it.
Jeff