Suprize! Changing Classes...

I will no longer be teaching PK-5th grade science lab.

I found out on Thursday afternoon that my administrative team was considering moving me to be a 5th grade homeroom teacher where I would teach both math and science to all of the 5th grade students (I currently teach one section of 5th grade science lab - they get science twice a day). They felt the switch was necessary as a current 5th grade teacher was under performing in his role.

By Friday morning, my fate was sealed. As I walked to breakfast to meet my Pre-kindergarten students for breakfast I was stopped in the hallway by my mentor and told that I would be moving to 5th grade.

I am not sure how to feel about the change. On one hand, it is a compliment. Fifth grade is a year in which the students and tested by the state. These tests are very important for the school because the state views the 5th grade students as a product of what the school can produce (even though most of our students come and go... which means they aren't really a PK-5 product of our school). The state bases the school's funding, support, and overall ranking based on 5th grade scores so teachers in this position are usually there because they are effective and good at what they do. They are also usually not first year teachers.

I am a little bit sad about the change as well. I am not excited to be leaving the great team I am currently on in science lab. There are five science lab teachers and we have been working together really well over the first couple weeks of school. Although we all have our own classrooms and students, we have been able to collaborate on lesson plans and setting up labs to make the schedule more manageable. We have also begun to develop very good systems that would have been great to have been a part of moving forward. I really like all of the people on the science team and am sad to leave them.

Another reason I am upset about leaving the science lab team is the enormous amount of work I have done to prepare myself for this school year and my role as a science lab teacher. Preparing for the amount of different students I saw everyday was very time consuming and I had spent a lot of time working on long term plans and systems for my classroom. I had put in countless hours getting my room ready and making sure it was inviting for students...
Now that I am switching with another teacher I will be leaving all of my hard work behind for someone else. I am going to have to start over and develop new systems and plans for my 5th grade class. I will be able to use some of my experience in science lab for the science classroom portion, but will be starting from scratch in math.

I spent this morning trying to move some of my materials from my current classroom to my new classroom. I already think I liked my old classroom better. I have put so much time into making it a good place for learning; it is hard to let it go. The room I will be moving into was a mess. The teacher I am replacing has put some effort into getting his room ready, but it is by no means where I would like it to be. There are lots of books, copies, and materials unrelated to math or science in all of the shelves around the room. I spent three and a half hours there this morning and am not even close to having my new classroom how I want it... I have a feeling the upcoming week will be long!

I will be teaching my last day of science lab on Monday. I am really going to miss my students. Even though they were bad at times, they quickly grow on you. From the "I love you Mr. Swartz's" and "bye's" when they leave the classroom; to the loud yelling of "Good morning (or afternoon) Mr. Swartz" when they first come into the classroom, it will be hard to have new classes already. I will be modeling my procedures and what science lab looks like to the teacher I will be replacing in 5th grade, as my old job will be his new role.

Tuesday will be my first day teaching science and math to 5th grade. I will have my own homeroom of 5th grade students and will have a completely different schedule for my school day.

I am a little bit stressed right now...