This year I have a new role. I'm responsible for teaching two subjects well to two classes. I have a partner teacher who teaches the other two subjects to the two classes. We work as a team when it comes to serving all children in both classes well.
This change in role has made a world of difference in the quality of work I'm able to do for so many reasons including the following:
- I am able to focus more deeply on the content and process related to the subjects I'm teaching.
- I teach each lesson twice which helps me to perfect the learning experience and share the ideas from one class to the other.
- I have a partner teacher to problem solve with--a teacher with many complementary skills and abilities so together we are much more than one teacher can be.
- The students have a more varied day rather than a day with only one teacher.
- My classroom is not as busy with multiple materials to teach all subjects, and there's more space for collaboration and learning.
- I am not constantly prioritizing and trying to fit it all in--I have a much more manageable schedule which means I'm happier and healthier.
- I have fewer leaders and departments to work with which means I can work with the departments I am connected with more deeply.
Further school changes also mean that my supports are more readily available and we have better structures for meeting the needs of diverse learners through the use of RTI.
This is the change I've been craving, and I LOVE it. This also confirms the fact that we have to re-look at schedules and structures at the elementary level. As standards become deeper and teaching knowledge more intense, one teacher can't be all things, and trying to be all things simply dilutes the effect possible.
How has your role or structure changed in the past few years? How has this affected your ability to teach well? What other ideas do you have for role shift and change to better the work we do? I'm curious.
