The past few days I have come to the realization that I am not interested in accepting just any job. I care about public schools and want to help make them better, which has occasionally meant that I was willing to work in really dysfunctional settings. But the reality is that I’m not so interested in surviving at a dysfunctional school. I want to enjoy my work and feel like I’m in a healthy environment. (I’d also like to make some friends, let’s be honest.) Maybe I’m not in a situation where I can be picky. But it’s how I’m feeling today.
The reason I am thinking about all of this is because a number of people have asked me if I’m interested in the position that I’ve been subbing in. The truth is that I’m bored teaching Level 2 ESL and I might go a little stir-crazy if I had to work in the position for the entire school year. I see many of the same students three periods a day. This could be great if the three periods were integrated, but they're not. Each period has to be planned as a discrete unit because there are different combinations of students in each section. Particularly hard is co-teaching without a common prep and with no time to create a shared vision for the class.
Subbing has given me the opportunity to realize that Level 2 ESL is just too low for me. It's such important work and I care about the kids a lot, but I miss having real conversations about real things! I know it would be better if I were their real teacher, but even so, I think I'd be bored.
Six months ago I was really scared about finding a job upon my return to Minneapolis in August. Old me would have said, “Of course you take the first job you can get.” Now I’m in a place where I am thinking it’s more important to be honest with myself and find a job that matches my interests and puts me on a path toward where I'd like to be.
The reason I am thinking about all of this is because a number of people have asked me if I’m interested in the position that I’ve been subbing in. The truth is that I’m bored teaching Level 2 ESL and I might go a little stir-crazy if I had to work in the position for the entire school year. I see many of the same students three periods a day. This could be great if the three periods were integrated, but they're not. Each period has to be planned as a discrete unit because there are different combinations of students in each section. Particularly hard is co-teaching without a common prep and with no time to create a shared vision for the class.
Subbing has given me the opportunity to realize that Level 2 ESL is just too low for me. It's such important work and I care about the kids a lot, but I miss having real conversations about real things! I know it would be better if I were their real teacher, but even so, I think I'd be bored.
Six months ago I was really scared about finding a job upon my return to Minneapolis in August. Old me would have said, “Of course you take the first job you can get.” Now I’m in a place where I am thinking it’s more important to be honest with myself and find a job that matches my interests and puts me on a path toward where I'd like to be.