The First Year In Teaching
First year teachers find themselves facing many challenges, and sometimes their class schedule is one of them. When I’m asked, “What do you teach?”, I answer, “High school Chemistry and Special Education Math.” The next response is usually “That’s a different combination.”
They are right; it is. Especially, when my Bachelor of Science is in Biology! I think I have a great schedule this year, especially for a first year teacher. I basically have 3 preps: My chemistry classes are first and second hour, and I can repeat lesson plans for that. I then have prep hour, which gives me a chance to grade and clean up after Chem, before heading off to lunch. After that I move on to 4th hour in my Resource Room. In here I basically have two levels of students and then some Study skills kids. It’s the same for the rest of the day. I try to prepare two separate math projects for the different levels and have “extra work” for my study skills kids. (In case they don’t have any homework to work on.)
I am still struggling with being inside all day. When I was a stay at home mom, I had the ability to go outside for some fresh air whenever I wanted (or needed.) It is quite different being inside cement walls all day. Even with the window open and plants on my desk, it is just not the same. I should step out during my prep hour, but just haven’t managed to make that part of my routine yet.
Why would I accept a position as diverse as mine? Well, folks it comes down to the teaching experience. This, of course is a requirement before your Provisional Certificate expires. (If you blew off that part of your education classes, read up on it as soon as possible.) The fact of the matter is: I am nearing my expiration date. This is 2004-2005 and my certificate will expire 2006. That means I have to have my 3 years experience and 18 credits of a planned program completed and filed, and apply for my Professional Certificate by next fall. Well, folks, I’m not as prepared as I should have been. Due to families, babies, money, and employment I have not pursued any credits toward this certificate. That means I now have to apply for an extension. When you start talking extension, it gets scary. To get an extension, I need only 10 credits and reasonable cause for the delay. However, there’s this chance that I might invest all this time and money into these 10 credits and then be turned down by the state. Refused. Rejected. Application denied. Not good.
Initially, I wanted to pursue a Master of Science in Biology at Northern Michigan University or Central Michigan University. However, I don’t want to have to take 18 credits toward my planned program AND an additional 6 by Aug. 31, 2005. Therefore, I have decided to obtain my Master’s in Special Education. Besides, not being able to take anymore better classes, the only drawback is that in our area there are few colleges that offer special Education master’s. I began looking online at various sites and narrowing it down based on cost per credit hour. I liked Northern Michigan’s Master Program, but as of now only some of the classes are offered online, and as much as I like the Upper Peninsula, I just can’t spend my whole summer there! I’m pretty sure, my kids and husband wouldn’t like that!
There is some advice I can pass along to new teachers. Regardless of money and family issues, I would suggest all future professional teachers invest slowly into their Planned Program so that time doesn’t sneak up on you. It is a necessary evil, which will really benefit the new teacher when done properly. In the meantime, don’t be scared to get your feet wet with a curriculum that you never saw yourself teaching. You may just surprise yourself.
