News, Royal Stuttering, and a Female Comedian

So now that I've spent my morning catching up on all of my required reading in my dashboard, while catching up on retro R. Kelly music videos on BET (P.S. did any one else realize that he was super creepy before all of those scandals came out? Because I just did. Uck.) I'm ready to do a post of my own.

It's Saturday morning, and as I look at all of my blog posts I've done in the past (all 19 I know) I always seem to drop off between Tuesday and Saturday. Any advice on keeping up on posting during the latter part of the week when it just seems impossible?

For my news. I mentioned in an earlier post I made last week that now that the school budget went through we had to wait on a city vote to figure out what jobs will stay, crossing our fingers that it would pass. And then after that we'd be receiving our new "places" or "roles" in the school.

WELL ON TUESDAY THE BUDGET PASSED! Was it the most wonderful and plentiful budget that we could've asked for as a district? No. But is my job accounted for? Yes!

We got the news on Thursday from our principal that we'd be hearing about what teams we are on Friday afternoon. Needless to say, when other coworkers texted me that the email came out Friday afternoon and I was still at track practice, I encouraged the other coaches to let me speed on home because I wanted to read this email alone. I needed to be able to have whatever reaction I needed to have without worrying about censoring myself.

Before I share, let me explain how things are set up now.

Each team has 4 core teachers: Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science. We also have special education teachers associated with our team, and each one looks different, whether the students are mainstreamed for all, some, or no classes. Also, some teachers teach only 7th or 8th and don't "loop" up. Other teams have both 7th and 8th graders in their classroom who they stay with. Other teams have both grades but teach them separately not all together, these are looping teams as well.

The past two years I have taught Language Arts on one of the looping teams that has 2 classes of 7th grade, and 2 classes of 8th. A.K.A. The 8th graders that I teach this year are the 7th graders I had last year, and I was planning on having my now 7th graders as my 8th graders, and getting new ones.  I teach English/Language Arts because that's what I'm "highly qualified" to teach. I can teach K-8, and my specialty that I chose in college was Language Arts.

 Following?

So we're making changes as we as a middle school move onto expeditionary learning, which is a model of learning that includes all of the teachers working together for one common unit twice a year for eight weeks. It's the coolest model of teaching I've ever seen.  As we move onto new changes we're revisiting and refreshing who's on what team and making everyone loop with just one grade at a time.

Also, because the district decided not to fill a few positions where people retired (budget cuts, surprise!), two of the teams only have three teachers instead of four. The language arts and social studies class is taught by just one person, teaching a combined version of the two at the same time called "Humanities".

So where did I find myself after the big reveal?

First off, I found myself on a three person team. That's right, the one where one teacher teaches two subjects smooshed together. And I'm that teacher! AHHHH! So excited!

Of course I knew this was a possibility going to be happening, my principal wouldn't put me somewhere without my knowing. But now everyone else in the school knows for sure, whereas before it was speculation as to who was going to fill into the new roles. It also feels a little more real now that it's been "announced" and is in writing somewhere for the whole school to see.

As far as the subject, I'm a little nervous but excited for a few reasons. I've obviously developed curriculum that I really enjoy over my first couple of years in Language Arts, and having to do something new is scary. I'll miss my old units, but since I do still have to cover that content I'm hoping to be able to roll some of my old stuff in with my new.

Also, covering standards for two subject matters is going to be a lot of planning and hard work the first two years of the program. Like I said, I loop with the kids, so one grade one year, one grade the next. I have my work cut out for me. And don't get me wrong, I'M REALLY EXCITED! In my opinion teaching humanities will go along very nicely with expeditionary learning. I'm allowed to be a little anxious while totally in love with the idea as I get started right?

So, if any of you bloggers out there teach and either are familiar with humanities in middle school or the idea of it in general and have any tips/resources HOLLA ATTA GIRL AIGHT?

Now the reason I'm not totally distraught over the idea of teaching such a big and broad topic area is because of the team members. Now I enjoyed working on the team I've been working with for the past couple of years, and am sad to see my team break apart. BUT.

My new team members?

Let's just say I couldn't put together a better team.

Don't get me wrong, our principal did a bang up job putting every single team of people together, and I don't envy what he had to do one bit.  I would be willing to work with anyone in the building.

But as far as what our team is going to have to do with the humanities piece being involved, he couldn't have put a better group of people together.

The science teacher on my team has been teaching for years and has literally taught EVERYTHING including humanities. Also the way that she interacts with the students is empowering. You can put any "type" of kid in her classroom and they will learn. She's a wonderful human being and I can't wait to work with her. I'm hoping she can show me the way as far as this new course goes, and I'm also hoping that maybe some of the awesomeness that she emulates will somehow seep into me and my teaching.

The math teacher is also in his second year of teaching like me. We actually went to college together.
And it wasn't like "we would occasionally bump into eachother on campus went to college together". Like, "he played on the men's rugby team and I played on the women's rugby team and would pass notes to eachother during class" went to college together.  The fact that we were hired in the same school was cool enough for me. If I had to name the top ten funniest people I've ever met in person, he would be on that list. He's also a really great teacher. The kids love him, and he cares about what he does.

I haven't quite worked or been able to get to know the special education teacher, but from my interactions with her, SHE IS A SAINT.  She is also very experienced and someone who knows what she's doing. As we start mainstreaming all students into the classroom eventually, I know that she will be really great and a team player as well.

Now the big question is, when/what can we tell the kids?

I know the "name" of my team. I know the grade of my team. But can we tell the kids now or do we have to wait until the end? We don't even know where what kids are going to go, are they going to be shuffled around just a little to make them one grade or a lot?

I guess I'll just have to wait to see on Monday what "the boss" says, and what other teachers are doing. One thing's for sure, I don't want to be the one to "spill the beans".

So, though it may not seem that exciting for any of you, and I wasn't able to insert too many funny anecdotes or stupid puns, it's super exciting for me.


In other news, the rest of my Friday was fantastic after that news. Dave took out champagne last night to celebrate as we watched The King's Speech.  For those of you unfamiliar, it is the movie about Prince Albert, later to be King George and his struggles with his stuttering, which he had to overcome as he was forced onto the throne. (This guy is the father of the current queen, to put it in perspective.)

Which this movie confirmed 2 two things I already knew:
1. Colin Firth is adorable, and a really great actor.
2. Winston Churchill was a total BADASS.  His role was small in the movie, but I mean still a total badass.

So after that movie was over I put myself to bed with a little of this:

My first "summer novel".

I LOVE Chelsea Handler.

And no it's not summer for me yet, I have 20ish days.

But a girl can dream.

Happy Weekend!