I got devastating news (at least for me) yesterday. I was told that I was being moved to second grade. Don't get me wrong.....I know I can teach second graders, but my love is in Kindergarten. I feel so empty. It has been about 20 years since I taught second grade. Things have changed so much curriculum wise that I will have to completely start over. All of the resources that I have made and collected will not be usable at second. If anyone knows of any second grade blogs that are outstanding.....PLEASE share them with me! I have already started assessing what I need to make and what I can adapt, but right now I think I am still in the mourning stage and my creativity is just not kicking in.
I will continue to create, but it will be directed at second grade. I will probably try to start another blog for second grade once I get somethings created. I'm sure that as I go through what I have already made that I will come across some more Kindergarten items, but I wanted all of my "blog buddies" to know what is going on.
I am so sorry you feel so bad. You are a fine teacher and you will be a better second grade teacher because you know kinder so well. Try to view this as a challenge.Go home and get some rest and you will have better perspective as time goes on. Change is so difficult and wish I could hug you. Your friends will listen to you and cut yourself a break and take some time to absorb the news.
ReplyDeleteFran@kindergartencrayons.blogspot.com
I was just thinking about you today, Jayne, this is so strange. My heart aches for you, I totally understand how hard this is. I was transferred from 4th to Kindergarten one year and it was really hard news to bear...I felt so devastated (I'm definitely wired to work with the older kids). Like Fran said, you will do so well because you are so great at Kindergarten. Please take care and don't worry...I know it's so hard now, but things will fall into place as you begin your switch. I hope you have a good evening!
ReplyDeleteKristen
I will was told yesterday that I will be teaching second grade as well. I have taught first grade for 11 years and have never taught another grade (except when I was student teaching in 1999). I can totally sympathsize with you when I start thinking about all my materials and resources that I have gathered....most of which won't help me anymore. But, ultimately, our administrators saw something in us that they knew the kiddos needed and so when I think of it that way, I am not so sad :). Maybe we can help each other out this year as we go through our year in second grade!!
ReplyDeleteCurls and a Smile
I just found your blog! I'm bookmarking--:-)
ReplyDeleteOne of my dearest friends is moving from kindergarten to second grade next year. After a few weeks of letting the news settle in, she is now moving forward, planning for a second grade adventure. I wish I could connect you! Best wishes!!
ReadWriteSing
Jayne,
ReplyDeleteWhen I read your blog, it tugged at my heart. A similar thing happened to me. After teaching first grade for 20 years, I was moved to kindergarten this past year. When I was first told the news, I cried. I was scared that I wouldn't know what to do. It took me a while to adjust to the idea. Then I embraced it. I spent the summer checking out k blogs and websites and reading every book I could find, rethinking how I teach and planning my classroom. It has been an exciting and challenging year. Now that I have one year under my belt, I have so many ideas I want to try out for next year. I don't know that I would want to switch back to first grade-even though I loved it.
You may feel the same way at the end of next year. For now, take some time for you. It is okay to be sad. Give yourself some time to get used to the idea. Then get back into it.
Think positive.You have so much to offer second grade. Obviously, the administration saw your talents and strengths as a teacher. Look at what a blessing you will be to the second grade team. Maybe you can get together with some of your new grade level colleagues over the summer. I'm sure they'd be willing to share ideas and lend some insight. You might be able to adapt some of your activities and materials so you can use them in second grade. My best friend got moved from first to second grade. She said that the switch was easier than she thought it would be. She likes that the students come into second grade being very independent. There is still an innocence and a love for learning in the students.
Here is a link to sqworl collections of second grade blogs and websites: http://sqworl.com/s.php?s=second+grade That is how I originally found the k blogs. I just started clicking away.
Hang in there. I wish you the best on your journey to second.
Fran
Jayne,
ReplyDeleteI know what it feels like to have to change grade levels, especially leaving one you love so much. I've only taught 3 years, and I've been bounced around 4 times! I've taught 2nd, kindergarten, 2nd grade again and then 4 weeks into the school year I was switched to 3rd grade. Kindergarten was my absolute love and I'm now changing schools and getting to head back to Kinder-Land! One thing I've learned from all of the grade level changes is that it challenges you and it does make you a better teacher. You begin to see just how important and how crucial it is for students to master the primary skills. You also see how the scope and sequence of the grade levels all tie into together...it's like you get a chance to see the "big picture".
Second grade is such a fantastic grade! You will have such a fun time with them. They are still sweet, innocent, and aim to please their teacher, but they're also very independent as well. One thing that I can recommend for you to do to prepare them for third grade is this: focus in word study and the word patterns, and make sure the babies have a strong understanding of number sense, especially in regards to place value and regrouping in addition and subtraction.
As you dig into second grade, you'll discover that you can have just as much fun as you did in kindergarten...it's just a different kind of fun!
Best of luck!!!
A fabulous blog for 2nd grade is loryevanspage.blogspot.com. 2nd grade is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI'm in your boat! I LOVE teaching K and have spent 4.5 of my 5.25 years of teaching in K. I turned our K program around and developed programs to help the parents and students transition into kindergarten on top of working voluntarily over the summer to do initial assessments and determine classroom placements. But the new principal decided to move me to 2nd grade. At first I cried, then I got angry, then I tried to transfer... Now I've accepted that I'll be here for at least the school year and it's time to make the best of it and experiment with all of the new things I want to try (more technology for the students, math work stations, Daily 5). I'm excited to have stumbled on your blog and look forward to reading what you're thinking about and doing to get ready for the transition!
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