Teaching 9 -12 so I can have a personal life

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Master Teachers

MEMBERS

3 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Master Teachers Chatboard

Teaching 9 -12 so I can have a personal life

by MC

May 7, 2009

Hello guys and gals!

So I teach at a charter school, and for the most part, I love it.

I teach grades 9-12, and I have 3 class periods. I have never taught so many grade levels before. my first period is a 10/11/12 split and my other classes are 9/10 split. Here is my issue: At first, I was coming up with different things for each grade level to do, but I felt unorganized, like I was going insane. I had to teach four different lessons, assign four different novels, find four different levels of grammar material, and then I discovered that many of my kids were only 9th grade level, (even my seniors) and had a hard time with things that they were supposed to have known already. At home things were a mess, I was doing school work 24-7, my husband was getting upset with me, I stopped talking to family and friends simply because there was no time. I was always lesson planning and then trying to keep straight all of my lessons that I was supposed to teaching each class. ...See MoreHello guys and gals!

So I teach at a charter school, and for the most part, I love it.

I teach grades 9-12, and I have 3 class periods. I have never taught so many grade levels before. my first period is a 10/11/12 split and my other classes are 9/10 split. Here is my issue: At first, I was coming up with different things for each grade level to do, but I felt unorganized, like I was going insane. I had to teach four different lessons, assign four different novels, find four different levels of grammar material, and then I discovered that many of my kids were only 9th grade level, (even my seniors) and had a hard time with things that they were supposed to have known already. At home things were a mess, I was doing school work 24-7, my husband was getting upset with me, I stopped talking to family and friends simply because there was no time. I was always lesson planning and then trying to keep straight all of my lessons that I was supposed to teaching each class.

Bottom line is this- in February I couldn't do it anymore, I was so exhausted, I kept getting sick, and my husband and I were in marriage counseling.

So I found material that were for grades 9 -12 collectively, and have been teaching my high school students the same material. We have been having a blast- we are more organized and they are improving. I give them a checklist of materials for the week, some , some things are easy, some things are very challenging, and some things, like creative writing assignments are from my college courses that I took. My homelife is better, I feel better...its all been better.

Today my principal told me that I have to go back to the old way...and I am so upset. My husband and I want a baby, I can't imagine having a baby and having that old work load.

Does anyone teach in a situation like this who has any suggestions? I love my school, I don't want to leave...I just need to find a way to make it all work. My principal made me think I was doing something wrong...

MC

Comment

(5)

report post

kk get yourself a job at a public school

On 5/07/09, MC wrote: > Hello guys and gals! > > So I teach at a charter school, and for the most part, I > love it. > > I teach grades 9-12, and I have 3 class periods. I have > never taught so many grade levels before. my first period > is a 10/11/12 split and my other classes...See Moreget yourself a job at a public school

On 5/07/09, MC wrote: > Hello guys and gals! > > So I teach at a charter school, and for the most part, I > love it. > > I teach grades 9-12, and I have 3 class periods. I have > never taught so many grade levels before. my first period > is a 10/11/12 split and my other classes are 9/10 split. > Here is my issue: > At first, I was coming up with different things for each > grade level to do, but I felt unorganized, like I was > going insane. I had to teach four different lessons, > assign four different novels, find four different levels > of grammar material, and then I discovered that many of my > kids were only 9th grade level, (even my seniors) and had > a hard time with things that they were supposed to have > known already. At home things were a mess, I was doing > school work 24-7, my husband was getting upset with me, I > stopped talking to family and friends simply because there > was no time. I was always lesson planning and then trying > to keep straight all of my lessons that I was supposed to > teaching each class. > > Bottom line is this- in February I couldn't do it anymore, > I was so exhausted, I kept getting sick, and my husband > and I were in marriage counseling. > > So I found material that were for grades 9 -12 > collectively, and have been teaching my high school > students the same material. We have been having a blast- > we are more organized and they are improving. I give them > a checklist of materials for the week, some , some things > are easy, some things are very challenging, and some > things, like creative writing assignments are from my > college courses that I took. My homelife is better, I > feel better...its all been better. > > Today my principal told me that I have to go back to the > old way...and I am so upset. My husband and I want a > baby, I can't imagine having a baby and having that old > work load. > > Does anyone teach in a situation like this who has any > suggestions? I love my school, I don't want to leave...I > just need to find a way to make it all work. My principal > made me think I was doing something wrong... > > MC

May 9, 2009

report post

zodea How did the principal find out you had changed things?

Did you tell them?

I'd say continue to keep things as simple as possible, but put the lesson plans into different words or with different objectives for each age group.

Focus on one group on Monday, different group on Tuesday, etc. Teach one day and have two days of ...See More

May 10, 2009

report post

Miss M I teach World History at a public magnet school. So I too have classes that are mixed. ALL classes I teach are mixed 9- 12. I treat them ALL the same. By that I mean, same lesson.

I think that is INSANE what your principal is asking of you!! NO you are NOT doing anything wrong.

What I would suggest is if he's going to insist...dif...See MoreI teach World History at a public magnet school. So I too have classes that are mixed. ALL classes I teach are mixed 9- 12. I treat them ALL the same. By that I mean, same lesson.

I think that is INSANE what your principal is asking of you!! NO you are NOT doing anything wrong.

What I would suggest is if he's going to insist...differentiated instruction. Like one of the other posters mentioned - create different objectives for each grade level (that can all be covered in the SAME lesson - so you're only prepping and teaching 1 lesson). And you can differentiate by having each grade level answer in-class and homework questions that are geared to their "level" or objectives.

BUT also as you said, you have seniors that are reading and working at a 9th level...so giving them SUPER challenging "on grade level" items - is actually counter productive. Now don't get me wrong - I believe ALL students no matter their level should be challenged (or else they won't grow) but you have to challenge them from the point they are at, not say "you're in 12th grade, you should be able to answer a 12th grade question".

Sorry to be long winded, but again, as I teach in a similar situation (mixed classes) feel like I can give you some support. If you are determined to stay in your school - Differentiation is the key!

For ex. let's say I"m teaching a lesson on the Holocuast Concentration camps. The Bell work question (or maybe it's the guiding question, orexit question for class - whatever, you get the point) for: 9th: List the daily activities of a Jew in a concentration camp 10th: summarize the attitude of the SS guards toward the Jews in camps 11th:Compare the Concentration camp system to US internment of Japanese 12th: Evaluate the effectiveness of the concentration camp system in regards to the Nazi objective for them.

See - same lesson on concentraiton camps for everyone, but the questions they answer individually vary in expectation by grade level.

Though I think your principal is not thinking about what is best for kids...differentiation should be based on ability level not grade level - but I guess you have to play his game.

Best of luck!!

> Today my principal told me that I have to go back to the > old way...and I am so upset. My husband and I want a > baby, I can't imagine having a baby and having that old > work load. > > Does anyone teach in a situation like this who has any > suggestions? I love my school, I don't want to leave...I > just need to find a way to make it all work. My principal > made me think I was doing something wrong... > > MC

May 13, 2009

report post

lynne/ca On 5/07/09, MC wrote: > I teach grades 9-12, and I have 3 class periods. I have > never taught so many grade levels before. my first period > is a 10/11/12 split and my other classes are 9/10 split. > Here is my issue: > At first, I was coming up with different things for each > grade level to do, but I felt unorganized, like I wa...See More

May 27, 2009

report post

Jamie in MO I agree with the differentiated instruction proposal, and I will add that if you give the students pre-tests before you start the units, you have evidence for which students are ready for which activities and objectives.

The pre-test could be as simple as reading a short story in class and asking students to write a paragraph comparing the...See MoreI agree with the differentiated instruction proposal, and I will add that if you give the students pre-tests before you start the units, you have evidence for which students are ready for which activities and objectives.

The pre-test could be as simple as reading a short story in class and asking students to write a paragraph comparing themselves to the main character. Students with well-written, organized comparisons, which include supporting details, are ready for more advanced writing instruction. Students who get the idea but struggle to generate examples or organize them effectively need direct instruction on that point. Students who don't really understand the story and can't begin to generate comparisons will also need different instruction.

Also, to keep yourself from going crazy (and congratulations!), try to keep the focus on more depth within assignments, rather than trying to keep track of many.

On 5/13/09, Miss M wrote: > I teach World History at a public magnet school. So I too > have classes that are mixed. ALL classes I teach are mixed 9- > 12. I treat them ALL the same. By that I mean, same lesson. > > I think that is INSANE what your principal is asking of you!! > NO you are NOT doing anything wrong. > > What I would suggest is if he's going to > insist...differentiated instruction. Like one of the other > posters mentioned - create different objectives for each grade > level (that can all be covered in the SAME lesson - so you're > only prepping and teaching 1 lesson). And you can > differentiate by having each grade level answer in-class and > homework questions that are geared to their "level" or > objectives. > > BUT also as you said, you have seniors that are reading and > working at a 9th level...so giving them SUPER challenging "on > grade level" items - is actually counter productive. Now > don't get me wrong - I believe ALL students no matter their > level should be challenged (or else they won't grow) but you > have to challenge them from the point they are at, not > say "you're in 12th grade, you should be able to answer a 12th > grade question". > > Sorry to be long winded, but again, as I teach in a similar > situation (mixed classes) feel like I can give you some > support. If you are determined to stay in your school - > Differentiation is the key! > > For ex. let's say I"m teaching a lesson on the Holocuast > Concentration camps. The Bell work question (or maybe it's > the guiding question, orexit question for class - whatever, > you get the point) for: > 9th: List the daily activities of a Jew in a concentration camp > 10th: summarize the attitude of the SS guards toward the Jews > in camps > 11th:Compare the Concentration camp system to US internment of > Japanese > 12th: Evaluate the effectiveness of the concentration camp > system in regards to the Nazi objective for them. > > See - same lesson on concentraiton camps for everyone, but the > questions they answer individually vary in expectation by > grade level. > > Though I think your principal is not thinking about what is > best for kids...differentiation should be based on ability > level not grade level - but I guess you have to play his game. > > Best of luck!! > > >> Today my principal told me that I have to go back to the >> old way...and I am so upset. My husband and I want a >> baby, I can't imagine having a baby and having that old >> work load. >> >> Does anyone teach in a situation like this who has any >> suggestions? I love my school, I don't want to leave...I >> just need to find a way to make it all work. My principal >> made me think I was doing something wrong... >> >> MC

May 31, 2009

report post