After fifteen years of teaching in the same school, I am leaving. I took a job here in Massachusetts teaching in an urban district. I'm teaching in a small K-8 school and I am the only social studies teacher for seventh and eighth grade. I am so excited, scared and overwhelmed I don't know if I should whoop it up or puke!
Last week I cleaned out my classroom of a decade and disentangled myself. Although I looooooved my classroom and would have forked you in the eye if you ever even suggested I might want a new classroom, I am the reason teachers should have to move classrooms every five years or so.
My biggest issue....Time marches on! I threw out binder after binder of worksheets I created a lifetime ago that definitely don't reflect who I am today. I found all of my special education resources that I squirreled away in case they hated me as a social studies teacher and sent me back. Worst I found these..
Boxes and boxes of diskettes! Don't forget about these....
On yes... April Morning read aloud on multiple tapes. Yup, let me just get out my tape player.... I had one of those too! Actually, I had a dual cassette recorder.
It took 10 hours, 4 recycling bins, and 7 trash bags but it is done.
I packed all the important things..
Now I'm ony way.... Goodbye Room 239.... It was a blast!
Moving forward.... Thidis my first time teaching in an urban district. I would love to hear any advice from those of you who have been there and done that!
Congratulations! Both my husband and I have taught successfully for years in high poverty urban schools so let me say welcome aboard! :) Urban schools and families are wonderful; there are unique challenges but also unique opportunities too. My biggest piece of advice: Don't let others suck you into "these" kids or "these" families ....[insert group labels here]. Our kids and families do care and are more than capable of achieving and need teachers that know it. Thanks for being part of the solution!! :)
ReplyDeleteYour last line has stuck with me! I am ready for a new challenge and I think this it. I really would like to think I'm part of the solution. Thanks for the advice... I will bring it into my first day. I may be reaching out to you this year for advice.... Thank you!!!!!
DeleteContact me any time! Keep up the really amazing work here and make sure you find the positive people on your campus to support you too.
DeleteSo happy to have stumbled upon your blog via Pinterest. Looks like it was time for a clean-out. ;) The important thing is that you take your obvious heart for kids and spirit for teaching with you. Best of luck to you! Can't wait to keep up with your blog as the new school year launches.
ReplyDeleteAmy @ http://giftedgabber.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the kind words! I love your blog!
DeleteI worked in a K-8 school in NYC and loved it! I was the only 8th grade English teacher, but I was at least able to collaborate with the 7th grade teacher. My advice is to treat it like any other teaching position. The kids are pretty much the same wherever you go. Yes, there are unique differences, but at the heart of it, they're all middle schoolers! The one thing I LOVED about urban teaching is that the relationships you build with the students are so strong. They will do anything for you if you foster respect and empower them with small successes. That is one thing I really miss about teaching there (I now teach in a huge suburban/rural high school in another state). Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the advice. I'm so excited and terrified for this new journey!
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