15 Year First Time Teacher

Ok...So as everyone knows I started my 15th year of teaching doing something I have never done before.  I was a confident, can do no wrong, bright eyed teacher.  I taught general education to middle school pre-teens.

Luckily, I have the experience working with kids for the past 14 years to to realize what works, what needs changed, and what was way wrong.  I implemented flexible seating, teaching stations, and a listening center.  I rocked out my decor and dressed up in all my finery.

Here is what was different today from the past 14 years of special education inclusion.  My voice is sore from either talking to much or too loud.   The jury is still out on that!  I have way to many similarities with Dug, the dog from Up.  SQUIRREL!!!!  I lost my train of thought a ton of times.  Repeating yourself four times in one day is exhausting and not much fun. The need to memorize all 110 of my students this year is going to be harder than I thought.  

So the great debate of who has the harder job will be answered by me at the end of this school year.  Will the winner for the hardest job be the special education teacher with paperwork insanity, adapting, and modifying?  OR Will the general education teacher win with the large amount of students, constant grading, and standard mastery?   Only time will tell!!!!

Thank you for every teacher and friend that took the time to ask how my first day in general education went.  I appreciate your kindness and caring!

The Change!

There are two things I know about myself...the placemat at my favorite Chinese restaurant as a child said I would be successful in any field I try (Go Monkeys!) and I hate change that wasn't my idea!

So...after 14 years of putting my heart into special education I will
be teaching general education next year.  I have always been licensed in elementary education and special education but knew I was meant to teach special education.  I love the challenge and newness of everyday.  I gladly implement IEPs knowing that this is one of the best ways to advocate for students.  The power I could wield with an IEP to support students was AWESOME!   Although I have often felt as though I could have done more or something different to help my students find success, I loved being able to try again and again until I found what was best.   I had a few and far between OH SO SWEET moments of seeing my students beat the odds and make it in the classroom and graduate!  Knowing I was a small part of their success made me so happy!

It was not my idea to move.  My moving did help with a staffing problem and allow everyone currently employed to still have a job next year so that is a win.  I will embrace 6th grade language arts and kick butt doing it.  It is still up in the air as to whether I will love it as much as I love special education but I refuse to not put my heart into whatever it is I do.  I still get to teach and I still get to be a part of students succeeding.  I will get used to doing it in a new and different way.