What can I say? This team teaching thing has been nothing but interesting and a little stressful. There are 2 other teachers, besides me (A and P). There are also 2 aides and a therapist that comes in a few days a week to work with certain kids. It is one of the teachers that is causing the stress. I get along just fine with A and we are on the same page as far as routines and teaching styles. The problem is with P, and we both have a problem with P. The first week, A and I took turns with the projects, but I always did calendar because I had the songs that went along with it. The second week, P took over the teaching and did everything completely different. I had a days of the week and months of the year song-the kids were finally starting to learn them and sing along. P decided that she was going to do a different days of the week song, and a different one every day, and not do one at all on some days. Talk about messing with routine. Calendar time also got longer and louder when P was running it (Friday it lasted 35 minutes!!!!) And she kept changing the projects we had decided on before school started to put on the calendar we sent home to parents at the beginning. She seems to be taking an easy route and doing projects that don't involve cutting or gluing (which after a 35 minute calendar time is good or they would get no play time!!!)
Luckily, P has no projects or teaching time in the last 2 weeks, so A and I can get the kids back on track and into the routine. P has been teaching this for 3 years and is also a substitute teacher for a number of years. Makes you wonder what your classroom would look like if she was your sub for the day. As a teacher, you would think you understand the importance of routine, especially when the kids are 5!!!!
The kids are great!! We have 33 of them, and not all show up on any given day-which is nice. There are a few kids who like to cause problems, but with 5 adults it usually doesn't last long!!
So, I am having a good time this summer with the exception of having to work with P. A and I are both going to request that we not work with P next year. And the site coordinator seems to understand our frustrations. Are they that desperate for Kindergarten Readiness teachers that they will keep the ones that seem to have problems?? Even the teacher whose room we are in complained about the way things were left last year. I can see it, after what is going on this year.
Now I get to enjoy my week away from the chaos and remember that P has no more lead teaching to do for the rest of summer school!!! Routine, we are coming back to find you!!!!!!
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