So now for my teaching adventures! This is a NOVEL

Part 2: In March, a parent of a very sneaky girl got mad and said that I was a horrible teacher and this had been a wasted year for his daughter. He had extremely high expectations and heard the other class was on algebra and we were not yet. She made up stories about me whenever I called her out for her behavior. Anyway, my principal decided that I was a weak 6th grade teacher and wanted to split all the 6th graders into a high group and a low group and give my partner teacher the high group and me all of the low kids. I would have lost all my kids that were actually engaged and motivated and would have been left with every single behavior kid in 6th grade—and there were a lot. She did NOT think this through. So I fought and got her to just switch them for math. We created flexible groups based on missing skills and pulled in the SPED teacher, 2 paras and even the assistant principal to take groups when she could. I organized all of this and in the end, we saw really good growth with all of our kids.

My principal was a first year principal, was overwhelmed and had bad ADHD herself. She made assumptions about me and my teaching without actually knowing. I defended myself! My reading scores throughout the year showed tremendous growth. With the exception of ONE student, everyone was in the HIGH growth range. So even though many were still below grade level, most had grown 2-3 years. And I’m not trying to throw my partner under the bus, because he’s very nice, but his scores were nowhere near mine. He presented the material—but he didn’t necessarily teach it. I would go back and reteach and supplement and teach again until they got it.

I bribed the kids a LOT. I gave out gator bucks for every little thing—especially finishing work or answering questions. And they spent them on croc charms and squishies and (shhh) candy. I threw pizza parties and bought them freaking Starbucks drinks. Whatever it took! I’m proud of what I accomplished. I built really good relationships with all but a few kids—and even they grew to respect me. I cried a lot because there were days where they just didn’t care. But I know I made a difference.

I make it sound like my principal was horrible—but she wasn’t at all. She would tell me all the time that I was doing a great job and she really, really wanted me in a primary position. But our enrollment was falling and they had to eliminate a position and I was the last one hired. So I had to find a new job. Everyone at the school was amazing—the other teachers, the office staff, the support staff. It is a great school with a challenging student population. I would have done another year if I could’ve.

So next year, I am moving to a new district—a tiny district that only has 3 elementary schools—that’s it! It’s very hard to get into, so I am very excited. It will be a very different experience—it’s a pretty affluent area. But the superintendent and my new principal are great and I am very excited. I was hoping to move back down to primary but will be teaching 5th and am actually very excited.

So, TLDR: it was a challenging year. I cried a lot. But I loved my kids and end the end I’m proud of what I did. And I’m moving in to s new school next year.