September 14, 2013

Off into the sunset? Maybe not...

I almost threw in my hat, called it quits and rode off into the sunset.  Moving to a new school is stressful enough without added drama.  My life has been a CIRCUS!  Since I first interviewed with my new school, I've had 4 different job titles - yup FOUR!!!  This is a big deal to someone who is borderline OCD.  I would no longer be self-contained and had to take 30 more students into my classroom (although now I would be team-teaching). We'd only been in school 3 weeks and I was about to lose it. I'm used to change and working with transient students, but this was pushing it.  I figured that I could sub for a year and find a job that was better suited to my sanity.

I talked to my principal and she was very understanding and agreed to get me help re-organizing my room to accommodate the changes.  She sent a retired teacher/principal to help me prepare all my student notebooks, journals, book boxes and etc.  She was a Godsend and knew just what to say to comfort my frantic mind.  Now I think I might just be able to do this...with God's help!

Well now that I have to switch classes with another teacher, I need a way to keep my classroom management under-control.  I send my students to my partner teacher with a clipboard that tracks students.  I use this weekly behavior sheet to track who has turned in homework and has broken classroom rules.  It's very handy tool at the end of the day when I send home behavior sheets to parents because they know exactly why their student has had a color change.
 I'm putting a copy of this tracking tool in my TPT and TN store.  The first five people to comment on my page can have it as a FREEBIE!!!

6 comments:

  1. I'm sorry it's been a rough transition. I love departmentalization or team teaching as you call it. I was a departmentalized reading teacher for years and now I am teaching GT. I hope things calm down for you. I promise you the key to success and sanity is your "partner" teacher. If you have good communication, a clear goal and a cohesive behavior mngt. plan then success is in your future!

    Deniece

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  2. Another fabulous idea! Hope things brighten up for you!
    Laura

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  3. I'm new to this behavior log world...anything would help

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  4. Great idea! I'm a new teacher and any help with classroom management would be great. I couldn't imagine going through so much in just the first few weeks of school!

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  5. Great idea. I am also a new teacher. and i love finding new things to make it easier on myself. thank you

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  6. thanks for sharing your experiences. it helped me alot.God bless you more.

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