Subject: Re: [MK8] Question

I think you have made your decision. Your exclamation points tell it all.
Catherine on dc
On Sun, Apr 16, 2023 at 7:16 PM Jill Young wrote:
> I taught 23 years elementary and was made to go to middle school chorus.
>
> Pros:
> Being treated like an equal! Holy moly, that was awesome! I had exactly
> same duty schedule, etc., like the homeroom teachers. It was fabulous.
> Planning period: most I ever had.
> Preps-three grade levels, not six!
> Not getting sick-I was always sick teaching elementary. I was only sick
> twice in the four years I did middle school (well, not counting cancer!).
> They get my jokes. They can also be super, super funny.
> Working with a band director. I had never in my life worked with another
> music teacher. It was fantastic.
> The ability level…..I LOVED that!
>
> Cons:
> I missed the relationship of watching kids grow up over six or seven years.
> I missed kids getting excited to see me in the hallway and cheering when it
> was music day.
> I missed teaching the whole school.
> They don’t HAVE to take your class, so you have to recruit. I also usually
> found a way to make sure those who were simply there to cause issues didn’t
> sign up again.
> Hormones. Have mercy.
>
> Over all…..I was less stressed and grew to really like it. I know that
> sounds nuts, but look at the pros listed above. My son was also in middle
> school, so we were on the same schedule and the same school part of the
> time (I had two). Middle school kids can be a handful, and they have more
> mature issues….but they can be pretty great.
>
> All my students are in high school now (I was on medical leave a year,
> then retired). I came by the high school chorus room and completely
> derailed her class for a few minutes because my former kids mobbed me,
> wanting to know how I was. Lol! With middle school kids, I was never
> sure if some liked me, apparently they did! The high school chorus teacher
> is also a former student of mine, she was good with it! :-)
>
> I will warn you, the older ones may give you a run for your money the
> first year because they miss the previous director : they did me, both
> schools. 2nd year….all good!
>
> I did find they were much easier to handle having a kid that age, than when
> I student taught middle school.
>
> Sorry, that was an essay. I was just thinking about this kind of thing and
> saw your post.
>
> Jill in NC
>
>
>
>
> On Sun, Apr 16, 2023 at 6:25 PM Catherine Pruett
> wrote:
>
> > You didnt mention if the new job is closer? I have learned to love middle
> > school kids but there is a skill set involved more than just what to
> teach.
> > Would your schedule be lighter? Do you know any other teachers there? Are
> > you a singer and pianist? Catherine in dc
> >
> > On Sun, Apr 16, 2023 at 4:41 PM Kelly Jones <
> kellyjones@charlton.k12.ga.us
> > >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hello!
> > >
> > > I have been teaching elementary music for 25 years. I have loved every
> > > moment of it! But, for the past 10 years, I have had to travel 40-45
> > > minutes to get back and forth to my job. It's a long day at my age.
> > And,
> > > for 9 months out of the year, my job consumes me. Hopefully, I am only
> > > about 5 years away from retirement. But, that may be a little wishful
> > > thinking. There is an opportunity for me to teach in my local area
> > doing
> > > Middle Grades Chorus. I have never taught middle school before. And,
> I
> > > have heard all the horror stories of it being a dumping ground for
> > placing
> > > students in a class just because there is no place else to put them.
> > >
> > > Any input is invited.....pros or cons. What would you do?
> > >
> > > Thank you,
> > > Kelly in Georgia
> > >
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