Monday, April 18, 2011
Kindergarten vs 2nd Grade
Okay, so after teaching 2nd grade for two years I was moved to kindergarten. I was terrified and to be completely honest... I cried for the first few months. Everyone should teach kindergarten once in their life so they don't make comments about how easy it is can appreciate just how difficult it really is. My district decided to switch to full day kindergarten that year and give me 33 little ones, only two of which had actually gone to preschool before coming to me. Thankfully, I had another teacher ::my soulmate:: with me for half the day and she is AMAZING! We both worked so well together and if you have ever had to share your classroom, you know how hard this can be. By January, we had it down. And by the end of the year... I was in tears for a completely different reason! Students that couldn't hold a pencil were writing paragraphs! I was placed back in 2nd grade this year and after only a week, I put in my request to go back to kindergarten. I miss it so much. Don't get me wrong, 2nd grade is great too. I just think kindergarten is a better fit for me. At the moment, I have a pinkslip which you all know means I could possibly not even have a job next year, but just in case something works out and all my dreams come true and I end up back in kindergarten, I have been doing some stalking. We all know and love Deanna Jump but I am becoming Kathleen at Growing Kinder's biggest fan. Her 100th Day post is something worth archiving. Okay, so enough rambling... off to find some more blogs. Leave me a comment with yours so I can follow you!
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I wish you the best in any grade that you teach :)
ReplyDeleteCurls and a Smile
I moved from 2nd this year back to Kindergarten. I haven't taught kindergarten since 1999. I've been in 2nd and 3rd for the past 11 years. I at first was like you, cried for a few days, then embraced it all and LOVE IT!. Kindergarten has always been my first love, but back then we shared rooms and had early/late programs. Now we each have our own room and a different schedule. Best of luck to you.
ReplyDeleteTiffani
http://time4kindergarten.blogspot.com/
I enjoy your blog! I am now a follower!
ReplyDeleteawigginsworld.blogspot.com
my sister has an AWESOME blog! her blog is http://mrsleeskinderkids.blogspot.com. check it out! :)
ReplyDeleteI am moving to 2nd grade next year after 10 years in K. I am a little bit sad because I like the challenge of K and yes all the rewards it provides. I will always be a kindergarten chick.
ReplyDeleteMy dream was always to be a kindergarten teacher. I finally got it at three years ago! I had to teach 2nd grade this year, but am now given the choice to go back on not. I feel like I need more time to make the decision, but of course, there is no more time! They say the in the long run, 2nd grade's independence will outweigh the k's "baby like tendencies," but I can't give up the growth that you see with the kindergarteners. And yes, writing paragraphs in kindergarten is just so astonishing to them!
ReplyDeleteYour post was very interesting to read. I myself was in this same category. My first year teaching, i was placed in a combined class of first and second. This year I was moved to a small room and stamped (Math & Reading Specialist). Of course this sucked! I enjoyed having my own class. Now i had to be dropped down to teaching maybe 5 students in a day. It was pretty okay because i had more break time to relax and unwind before the next session. Well we losted a teacher and they grabbed me and placed me in the vacant dungeon of Kindergarten. NOOOOOO! I thought to myself. Kindergarten? Couldn't you have put someone else in that class? it's been half the school year now and i still think i dislike it. Of course having the smaller cute little bunch seems fascinating but O'My there energy level has skyrocketed into mid air. The school year is ending, so now this is my time to start thinking about asking for a grade swap. I do believe i'll be missing them in the end, but im not sure if this is MY AREA OF RULE! LOL! #Thanx 4 Your Post!
ReplyDelete....Hope you get re-hired! I have been teaching Kindergarten for 6 years...I LOVE IT!!!! But now I will be teaching 2nd grade. I have taught 2nd grade b4, but I dont want to now. Where do I begin?????
ReplyDelete