Summer = revamping curriculum

Summer break for teachers is never really a break.  One is trying to catch up on those professional development courses, reworking their curriculum, or even attending conferences.

For me, it will be mostly about revamping my own curriculum for the two new courses that have been assigned to me for the upcoming school year.  I am pretty excited because (1) I will be working with a team to help improve writing proficiency scores and (2) I will be teaching more literature.  I have been given English III and Modern Literature Honors.

I love writing and reading, and I will definitely be getting more of each element this year out of both courses.  The problem I face is trying to factor in my style of teaching with the school district’s curriculum.  I have never taught these courses before, so for me it will be they will be crash courses.  I was actually asked to participate in English III to help boost writing proficiency scores by my department chair, which made me feel great.  Even more so, another colleague had suggested to my department chair that perhaps I would do well with Modern Literature since Modern and American Literature seems to be what I work most with.  To know that people have faith in the way I teach in my classroom is awesome!

I will also be looking into how I can improve my portfolio.  As you all know, I keep my portfolio online.  In this way, I can collect feedback and comments so I can understand more or gain more knowledge from the more seasoned and veteran teachers.  It will also keep me on target with my actual portfolio I will have to keep in class for random checks by the state this upcoming year.

My school will be going through the transformation model, which was deemed the most appropriate by our school district because of our AYP status.  If we passed AYP this school year, then we will be N5H (5 years not making AYP, holding because we made it this year).  If not, then we will receive N6 (6 years of not making AYP).  Honestly, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has potential, but it truly need to be reformed in a dramatic way with the upcoming education reform.

We will also be transferring over to an empowerment school, which allows us more wiggle room with what we do within the school.  We could get bonuses based on merit and progress within the classrooms.  It will allow us different resources and access to other grants.

All and all, next year looks pretty promising to change our school’s culture.  I really miss the old school culture the old buildings had.  Since the school was rebuilt and moved into the new building, it seems some of that old school charm has been forgotten.  I am hoping that the staff will be more collaborative with our new schedule as well.

The new schedule will allow us a common planning period where we can meet with other teachers that teach the same course.  This is on top of our prep period.  We have to report to work by 6:55am to be prepared to open the doors for the students at 7:00am.  We still leave school at 2:06pm.  The only difference is that we do not have to stay until 236pm.  We can leave as soon as the campus clears.

I am also still out in the portables, which is a good thing.  I didn’t want to move my things before going on vacation, but I did pack everything up for the off-chance that I might have to change rooms when I pick up my keys in August. 

I still want to enjoy the summer, but I am already getting excited for the new school year!