The Difficulties of Changing Grades

The title may not be quite what you are thinking. I’m not even going to touch on the fact of the extra paperwork that comes with switching grades, the hours of preparing for something you would have otherwise not had to prepare so much for, and of course the task of learning a new curriculum. All of those make changing grades difficult, but that’s not what I’m focussing on today.

Today was our first day of school, and as you’ll read in my next post, I didn’t quite have the start to the year that I had planned. However, for all the preparations I did, today is what shook me up the most.

A little background for those who don’t know, I’ve essentially taught grade 6 for the past 5 years. That whole pre-teen mentality is what I’ve become accustomed to and primed to deal with. I loved it. But with an expanding school and a new principal, some changes were made, and I was asked to take on grade 2. I’ve been wondering if I would regret it ever since.

Everything went well. To be honest, it went way better than I thought it would. Surprisingly, the grade two students actually listen better than the grade sixes… go figure! But, when I walk into the hallways, and I see my previous students, I see the students that I had grown to know over the last year in anticipation of teaching them this year (before my assignment change), I can’t help but feel out of place. I feel like a skeleton of a person, just doing the job because I know how to do it, but not because I’m actually supposed to be there. It’s weird. Even my previous students stopped me and said they still didn’t picture me as a grade two teacher… because I’ve always been grade six to them! It’s just a strange feeling…

As I said, the day actually went very well. But there is so much to get used to. Grade two thinking is on a much more basic level than the complex conversations we would have in grade six. It takes them much longer to figure out problems and what I could consider simple tasks than the speed and accuracy my grade sixes could accomplish. I have never really had to teach reading before, nor spelling on such a basic level. I was a little shocked and blown away with the amount of help I needed to provide the students while creating an “About Me” booklet. It’s just so different from what I am used to.

I had a minute to talk to last year’s grade 2 teacher who is now teaching high school. She mentioned that after her first day in high school, she missed the grade 2 class. For her, the change was the opposite of mine. She missed the love and hugs you get from the younger children, and the kindness they speak to you in. Whereas high school students are very standoffish and can be rude in their talk. It’s completely different for her as well.

Are you a teacher that has switched grades? Do you know the “out of place” feeling I’m talking about? I’d love to hear your experience below and even suggestions on what you did to feel more “in place”. I’m sure time will help, but any extra advice is definitely appreciated!

Everything New, All At Once

This blog is definitely geared more towards teachers, but I’m sure many of you can relate to this as well.

Sometimes it seems like everything changes, all at once. And sometimes that’s ok, but sometimes it’s overwhelming. Most of the time, you’re just not sure how to take it. For me this year, there are a few new things hitting all at once.

#1: New principal. Now, this is where teachers will better relate. We have a new principal that we did not know of at the end of last year and are just now meeting her for the first time (2-5 days before the first day of school). There are a ton of things that are unsettled and school is starting soon. This one is huge.

#2: We have 3 new teachers. Now this happens regularly at our school because it has been expanding. This is expected. But with new teachers comes new input and with new input comes new scheduling and of course disruptions occur. This is something we’re still working on.

#3: (A little less school related). My husband and I need a second vehicle. Winter is coming, and he has to leave for work at 6:15 each morning. I don’t have to be here until 7:30. As much as I’d love to say it’s not a problem, I see teacher’s burnout coming much more quickly if I have to be here at 6:15 each morning. This is a huge problem. But of course, being back to work now, it becomes much more difficult for us to find the right vehicle. Problems.

So there are a lot of things to deal with; a lot of things to sort out. Life is never promised to be easy, but we are promised to get through it. I pray regularly to my Heavenly Father as I look at this situation because it is a lot of stress to hold on my shoulders. But I know He tells to lay my burdens at His feet, and that I am trying to do. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed or heavy-laden, lay your burdens down at God’s feet. He’s there for you. He’s there to help you. And let Him give you His peace that will help you endure all difficult situations. There’s honestly no better way. ❤