After the play, before materinty leave, and a crossroads!

Sometimes I feel like I spend a lot of time at school focusing on the NEXT BIG THING. In past years, it has been things like: a show opening, a cool field trip, MCAS, week long vacations, and the end of a term. This year will be different, as I am the ONLY person gearing up for what I have my sights on: March 19th.
March 19th will be my last day of work this school year. I wish it weren't, as I feel like I'm really getting the hang of being a homeroom teacher and teaching ELA. Although it is 6 weeks away I feel like that time will pass quickly!
Of course I am excited for WHY I am leaving. And apprehensive, and scared, and even a bit ambivalent. But aren't we always filled with so many emotions for that which is unknown to us?
So I have this NBT coming up March 19th and there is so much left to do. With the play I need to get the yearbook page ready for Ms. Pick and have a cast party. With ELA we need to finish our essays on Scorpions, do MCAS prep, get into some poetry, and start Word Generation!

On top of all that, I am at a crossroads once again in my career. The Principal is opening another theatre arts position. Which he would like me to take over starting next year. There are so many opportunities that come with the position that it is hard to even think about staying in ELA!
However, I am reticent to go back to theatre arts. First, because I AM enjoying ELA. I enjoy my coworkers, my collaborators, the bonds I've formed with the teachers in my cluster. I also am grateful for the relationships I've formed with my students; relationships that are so much deeper than I formed with my Theatre Arts students. Those are things that I definitely lacked in my previous position as Theatre Arts teacher. Although, I did have a close bond with the PE teacher, Ms. Griffin, I didn't eat lunch with her daily---it wasn't something I simply fell into (so nicely) as I have with my 7th grade team. My major reason for wanting to stay in ELA is so completely selfish, though. I would like another chance to find out if I'm any good at it! This year I spent so much time learning the curriculum, creating my classroom expectations (ELA and TA classrooms run SO differently!), and creating a high level of expectation for my students and making those expectations clear to myself AND to my students. It would be lovely if I could work in ELA for another couple of years at least to learn more about my abilities and capabilities as an ELA teacher.
Theatre Arts does lend itself to the many things I enjoy about teaching, though! Certainly I get to see students in ways their ELA teachers NEVER do!
With all that in mind, I talked to my union rep from the BTU (Caren Carew) this week about my options. My concern is this: what is safest for me in the long run, to remain in ELA or move back to Theatre Arts? Although I am permanent, BPS is still making cuts to permanent teachers, and as the Superintendent's letter to us said last week, SY 2012 isn't looking any better. Therefore, I've been advised by the BTU to stay in ELA, as there are teachers with less seniority in ELA positions than in Theatre Arts. In fact, I am the least permanent teacher in the Performing Arts in Boston.
Never did I think I would have to deal with the pink slip again!
So, it sounds like to have job security ELA is the way.
the way.
the way.
ELA is the way.
hmmmm....

23 days.

23 days left in the school year. It's hard to believe I'll be unemployed in that many days (plus a few weekends, I suppose).
I get frustrated. Really, really frustrated. Because I know I'm a good teacher. And I'm not frustrated because I'm losing my job. I'm frustrated because the students who attend the Irving Middle School are losing a good teacher.
And they deserve a good teacher. Maybe "Gregory Allan" will be a good theatre arts teacher. In fact, I hope he is. I'd hate to see the first-ever theatre arts program at the Irving fail in someone else's hands.
But, I know I've given my students something no one else can give them.
I see it in their faces, when they get excited about a scene we're working on.
I see it in myself, when I can't find words enough to congratulate a group on a great performance.
I see it in my husband and dogs, who think I'm giving too much time to my kids.
I see it in what the school has become since I've been there. Not because of me, but because of teachers like me.
Teachers like me who, are also being laid off. Sharon, Social Studies. Susan, Student Support Services. Terri, 7th grade ELA. Brendan, Creative Writing.
23 days to go. Where does my motivation come from?
Every day. Every day I find it. Middle Schoolers becoming actors.
Sometimes I have very little faith, then...we play a game, do a warm up, they perform an original scene. And my kids help me find that motivation.
23 days left, to be the luckiest teacher in the world.
And then.
It's gone.

Talent Show, Part ???

I may be unemployed, but I'm still going to finish the game. Hell, we're already in the 8th inning!

This will be the Irving's first year for a talent show. An incredibly dedicated and cool group of ladies (I think 4 of the 7 are pink slipped for next year---what is BPS thinking!??!) are helping me. Sometimes so much so I think I'M helping THEM. That's ok; it's soccer season and I have enough on my plate.

I am really excited about this Talent Show, and to be a little selfish, especially because we are pulling together a teacher routine.

We held auditions the past 2 weeks, and while we only had about 9 acts show up, I think that will be plenty! In addition to purely student prepared acts we have the Double Dutch Team and one of our teachers directing a little skit.

The plan is to do a potluck before...will it all work? Damnit, if I'm going out, I'm going out IN STYLE!!!

And...if one teacher gets her way, it will be to Low by Flow Rida. Sweet.

Pink Slip

Thursday April 16th was a bad day.
I got the phone call I'd been preparing for but still wasn't ready for: Stanley, my beloved 10 year old Boston Terrier, has Stage IV lymphoma.
Traumatized and slightly shocked, I went home and got the letter I'd been preparing for but still wasn't ready for: Boston Public Schools is not renewing my contract for the 2009-2010 school year.

Since Stanley's cancer is more immediate, it has overwhelmed me this entire break. But he's on chemotherapy and has improved drastically. I am hoping that this is also the case with my employment status for next year!

Keep your fingers (and paws) crossed. For now, there are 43 days of school left in Term 4. We have a talent show coming up and I'm going to try giving my students a "final" for the first time ever.
There will be updates!