last year i taught middle school language arts. 3 self contained, 2 co-taught. now i am all co-taught, with science, language arts, and math. i feel like my head is going to explode. i just feel like i don’t know the content, as i have never taught the 8th grade curriculum. the co-teachers i work with (all three of them) have been ok to good. how can i feel better about this situation. i really don’t like co-teaching and wish everyday i could have my own classroom, but i won’t this year. i am wondering why i should stay in spec. ed. when i don’t get to teach what i would like to (language arts) to the kids i like working with (students with ld). i am seriously considering getting my masters in language arts and leaving spec. ed. behind. what can i do?????????
Re: frustration
My principal is useless, it was her decision to move me……I have a major in Special Ed. and a double minor in english and psychology. I absolutely love working with spec. ed., but not this way. i was moved to this position after spending a lot of time getting my orginial position (7th grade language arts spec ed) ready, but then was moved because the woman whose place i have taken didn’t get along with the teachers i work with and the solution was to move me, even though i am very unhappy about it. i can co teach with one subject, maybe two, but three is just making me feel useless, the only way for co-teaching to work is to plan ahead, and that just isn’t happening…….let me know if you have any more questions…..
Re: frustration
Well I am in Texas and I know that everywhere has different laws and regulations, so in Texas we either get certified in ECE-4, 4-8, or high school, or all level, is it that way for you too? The reason I am asking is because if you are not certified to teach a grade level then how can they make you teach it? Than kyo ufor answering my questions by the way. I am sorry that your principal is useless I hear that many of them are and that really sad in my opinion.
I am a sped major right now, and all of my prof are telling us to be prepared for what you are going through right now because it is happening a lot. However, I do not think that you should leave the sped dept. all together I think maybe go ahead and get your masters in lang arts but stay in the sped dept. because sped teachers are needed so badly. Have you tried to talk to your dept. chair? or principle? Do you think if you explained to them your frustrations and desire to leave that anything could change? Did you get your major in sped with a minor in language arts? OR did you major in language arts and minor in sped? I am wondering because as it stands for me right now i am all-level sped generalist and I am wondering how bad that will effect me and if I will have the same problems as you.