Yes, it is three months later, but it is with renewed purporse that I dust the cobwebs off of this blog.
It seems Adamsland will be moving. Not to a new school or district, but to a new hall. I will move to eighth for the 2011-12 schoolyear. We're not sure how long this move will last; it all depends upon the population. What concerns me is that I, with one of the longest tenures in the English department at my school, will become a nomad, which leaves me little chance of building a program/curriculum in one grade. Of course, I am happy to have a job. There are plenty of teachers out there without one. So, as is apparently evident, I have mixed feelings about this move.
The first of the battles I am fighting is looping up with my students. The research supports looping in middle school, especially in the ELA class. With the go ahead from my principal, I was left with, "I'll lie and tell you I'll think about it." from my API. Great. . . .She claims that it is not fair to the students who do not have a chance to loop. So, should we deprive 100 because there are 200 who do not have the opportunity? She claims it is also not fair to the teachers who cannot loop. Again, I ask, should we punish 100 because the teachers of the other 200 are not looping up? Moreover, my academic life is in upheaval, give me the same kids and let me lick my wounds in the corner!
I am tryng to keep an open mind about it. I am being moved there to be a mediator between the other two teachers. That doesn't help me. I am all for collaboration, but when I am to be referee, that just takes energy from my students, and I don't like it!
So, I've begun combing through some of my resources to find some footing. I will make a go at it, but it feels like I am shaky ground.
