Well my first year of my 4th grade job share is done. It was a challenging year but I learned so much!
My partner Kim is wonderful. Her and I are VERY different, but it works. She is very type A (which I have some in me as well) but I knew walking into her classroom, in a grade level I've never taught, I'd have to be SUPER relaxed this year and go with the flow. I did my best!
We team plan every Wednesday, during a common prep. Since Kim and I alternate Wednesday's, we alternated planning for one another. She'd plan one week, then I'd plan another. For the most part I really liked this. The three of us (my two teaching partners and I) were all on the same page so it was simple. I just did't know the direction of where we were headed or the curriculum. It's hard to feel "super prepared" when you aren't there the previous day and "in the groove." It was also hard to feel like the classroom was "mine." She asked if I wanted to take down her stuff or if I wanted to set up stuff but honestly it was summer, we were going to change rooms multiple times, so I just held off to first off see if we moved rooms and then secondly ended up not taking stuff down because, well, I'm part time:). I want to be with my kids. I'm trying to let go of some of my type A...trying and always being right. I'm such a first born!
I tried asking friends for job share advice but obviously no advice I sought after helped. It's kind of work through it type situation, year, curriculum, and learn as you go and mostly it depends on your partner. I felt like a new teacher and I was. The jump from kindergarten to 4th was harder for me than 5th to kindergarten because I only had my 4th graders part time. It was harder to whip them into shape with "my" routines and procedures. The grading was so intense as well! Anything I gave assessment wise, I had to grade on my days and there isn't much time to do it! Plus my days were planned for me so I didn't have my own agenda at all. It was hard and there were times I wanted to give up. I see why many principles don't allow job shares because it takes A LOT of WORK!
While I struggled, I don't feel the students suffered one bit! I had trouble mainly understanding where I was headed in the school year content wise and the curriculum. That was hard. While yes I can look through the teacher's manuals, this year was a new ball game with common core standards which our current curriculum does not meet. This meant creating a lot of new ideas and implementing new things, which I love. I finally found my place and started bringing new ideas to planning and they were warmly accepted.
Because I truly love my job, I put in lots of extra hours. At the beginning of the year, Kim really put boundaries on me as far as calling, texting, and meeting. We mainly communicated through email after our last day of "our week". We met a total of 3 times, to do report cards. I came in on a few off my "off" Wednesdays to test our kiddos reading levels. It was nice to connect with her a bit more. While I resented the "space" at first (because I didn't truly understand her expectations, routines, math workshop and so on), I realized she was trying to give me space and respect me as a professional but I needed more "collaboration". I understand she's a new mom and wanted her space. We aren't best friends, we aren't related, we have a professional relationship. We didn't plan or meet hours on end. We are to the point, efficient, and direct. I really ended up liking that part!
Our boss had us both meet (yes Kim came in on a day off which is a rarity!) with him one morning to see how it was going. I'm not going to lie it was a bit uncomfortable. He really pushed for a way that we needed to grow, basically critically one another. Uhm ok I'm not throwing her under the bus so I sat quietly (yes, I'm occasionally quiet:)). She did critique a fraction lesson I taught. I told her before we started the year my faults. I'm not the best grader, I procrastinate (well I didn't this year!) and math isn't my strength. So of course she brings that up to my boss instead of me. I got a bit defensive and I honestly didn't teach it that well. I taught it how I was comfortable with, which is how I learned, not how the curriculum laid it out. Does that mean it was a horrible lesson? No! So I left super frustrated. I told him I didn't like how "in the dark" I was since I wasn't planning. Kim said it wasn't her job to tell me what or how to teach. Her famous lines in her email were "ask Megan or Traci" our teaching partners. Well they aren't always there to answer my bazillion questions! I seriously was at their door every morning of my first day of my week asking, clarifying and making sure I was teaching everything just right (just like a puppy waiting for a walk!). I felt so frustrated. She wasn't going to take the time to answer my questions (I seriously was emailing her little questions 3, 4, maybe more, times a day!) and my partners had other things to do beside be at my beck and call. Well after all this was said and done, I clarified I don't need her to tell me how to do it, it's just honestly what's best for our students if we are on the same page and I understand where we are headed and how best to teach it. Somehow she thought that I should just do my job because I'm a professional, but in someone else's room. Hmmm.
After that meeting, which I left frustrated with, Kim really made the effort to over communicate with me in our emails and it truly was the best thing that happened in our communication.
I never felt frustrated after that!
We ended the year on a great note and are set for another year. This year really confirmed that I NEVER want to work full time again. The stress of teaching has gotten so high! Between common core standards, standards based grading, all the assessment we have to give, I could go on, it's so nice that Kim and I share it! I honestly didn't feel very stressed this year. There were times, but usually it was self-induced stress due to cute projects:).
Like this project
Kim is really into March Madness and does a math game tournament. So I did my own tournament with books:).
Here bulletin board is below:
During Washington state history, I had my dad come in and talk about the homestead they live on. He talked about how his family came by boat, then traveled by covered wagon to our homestead they live on currently. He brought in lots of props including that long saw, which he let one of my super responsible 4th graders carried in and I didn't catch it. Needless to say, he didn't carry it out:). Safety first!
We also made our own butter and baked bread in the Dutch oven. Very fun!
Below are a few pics from our Valentine's party. The mom did a fun Minute To Win It game with straws and candy hearts. It was fun!
Below is Megan and I for 80's day. Hmm, not my best dressed day, ha!
Then on the last day one of my students sent me this picture she took with us.
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| Me, Alexis, and Kim |
Yes she presented a huge candy lollipop. YUM! Hudson and Hannah loved it but I kept singing "We represent the lollipop kids" from Wizard of Oz:).
I got this adorable gift from one of my boys and this card:
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| Thank you for helping me grow! |
But this was my favorite card
Smart idea Colby! I'm going to do that now...
This was so thoughtful! Tears filled my eyes. This is why I love teaching! I had no idea he felt this way. It's nice to have one kid love you:).
Of course there were many others who brought thoughtful gifts. One little boy brought me a bouquet of flowers. Jared said "All right, who is he?" Lol. Our kids were so thoughtful. Kim and I marveled at how wonderful this group was. We truly loved them! There were a few tears on the last day, mainly from the boys. So sweet!
We are looking forward to many more years together. This is the first and roughest year (kind of like marriage, lol). Now that we know our jobs/roles, it will be a breeze! I have until Kim's kid, soon to be kids I'm guessing, go into school so that's a few more years hopefully!
