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Home : 2010 : Mar : 27
Just a quick introduction about myself. I have taught for 21 years. I have taught special ed (resource, gifted, behavior) for 12 years, then moved to middle school for 7 years (teaching various subjects...always moved to "fill in" the open spots), then finally moved to 5th grade. I love it. I have always loved my job and feel I'm very flexible with adapting to whatever position I'm in. I'm very creative in my teaching and have always been well received by my students and parents. Thursday out of the blue I received a note from my principal to see him when I had a chance. (When he came in my students were all seated, quiet, and we were working on completing an outline. They were doing great.) To sum up our conversation, he said I was a great teacher, the kids do well on learning the material from me, obvious I love the kids, I'm very dedicated......BUT he thinks I need to go back to middle school. That I would be happier there. He said my students didn't know what to expect from me and I treat them more like middle school. He said I have great discussions where the kids are encouraged to share their thoughts and opinions with me. He stated that ideally this would be a perfect class, but instead of just giving me their opinions I should be helping them shape their opinions. I asked what things I should correct and he told me that I shouldn't have to correct anything. What I do and am is great, BUT great for middle school and middle schoolers need someone like me. He told me to think about it, watch for the postings, and that he would have nothing but glowing remarks for me. I did have had a hard time adjusting to the students being more immature, but I thought I was doing ok. I've had a rash of problems out of my students. 2 are needing to be referred to the alternative school and 1 needs a behavior/social skills type program. I thought I was to start sending them to the office so we have a "paper trail". My principal assured me this was not the problem for my "recent visit". The day before (when I was absent) two of my students got into a kicking fight so they had in-school suspension when I returned, which is in the office hallway. That same day I brought the girl "with issues" to the office for blatant disrespect towards the art teacher and later to me". I don't know if having 3 kids from my class was the final straw or not. (The very next day the PE teacher brought the same girl to the office after being in the gym for 3 minutes for spitting on a kid's neck.) So, I have tried to digest this. I am a very laid back, scattered kind of person. My schedule stays mostly the same, but my activities vary alot. My transitioning needs much work. I have a great relationship with my students. I never hold any behavior issues against my children; we always start over fresh. I want to tell my principal I love working here and I'm more than willing to try to improve. I'm always trying to improve. My principal is a great guy and I love working for him. He is an honest person. I also feels he likes me as a person. I don't know why he wasn't willing to sit me down with some kind of improvement plan. He really doesn't think I can change and still be happy. So was all the positive just a nice way to say "just go away"?? I am finally in a school that I love and feel comfortable in. I don't want to go back to middle school or start over somewhere else. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO! Is it possible that he's right and I can't change that part of my personality??? I've never had anything negative on my observations. I don't know what else I would do besides teach. I guess I just needed to share this with someone who might have some suggestions as to what I should do, what I could change, how I could change, ANYTHING! Thank you for reading this long sad rambling. I'm not a negative person and I'm not one to share something this personal I'm just really scared.
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