I'm not sure what hit me, but this last week has found me thinking LOTS about going back into a classroom. I left a grade level position to take a library media specialist job 2 1/2 years ago. Here are the pros & cons of my job now:
Pros:
1. I get to see ALL the kids in the school during the week.
2. I get to work with a variety of grade levels (K-5).
3. I get to decide the purchases we make. (It's fun when you're buying new books!)
4. My work pretty much stays at work. (This has been nice since I have a little one at home; I do bring planning home & I peruse book catalogs & lit. review journals, but it's not an urgent/nightly matter).
5. I have lots of freedom to teach the way I want and not feel confined to a prescribed curriculum. I have goals and standards to meet, but it's flexible how this is achieved.
6. I get to help people every day.
7. I learn all the latest technology & gadgets to use in my teaching.
8. I'm less stressed.
9. I work with great people!
Cons to this position:
1. This is a very misunderstood position; Ideally, I'm supposed to support the teachers and work collaboratively with them. What it's more like: teachers drop their kids off for me to "watch" for 45 min. during the week.
2. Sometimes reading even the best story 6 times in a week is not fun.
3. When it rains, it pours - It always all hits at once. I have a class of 30 kids, 10 other students show up to check out something, a teacher needs tech support. I don't have that many hands!
4. The library becomes a "dumping ground" when students need a place to go (can't be in P.E. or recess, can't attend a classroom event, holiday celebration, etc.)
5. Teachers send me kids without any note or pass explaining why they are in the library, what they are to do, and when they should be back (despite my repeated efforts & pleas for them to use a pass).
6. I'm not treated as an equal by many of my peers. Some of my peers are great and try to include me in their planning and projects. Others look at me like "and what do you do all day?" They think I don't know anything about what they do (even though I was in their shoes for 6 years) and certainly don't want my help "teaching" anything to their students.
7. Technology; Because all the technology is
bar coded & needs to be checked out through the library, it falls under my responsibility to disperse, trouble shoot when problems arise, and do the tech. work orders when needed. I love the gadgets, but people come and get me out of the middle of my class when something is wrong. One time the VCR wasn't plugged in. Often the quick fix is on a "direction" page I've created and included with the item. Many times it's over my head and they need call the I.T.s at our Help desk line. Really, it's only a phone call away.
I don't know what the right answer is. I feel good where I'm at, but it can be a lonely job sometimes. I miss seeing the growth of students like I saw when I was in the classroom. I miss knowing a core group of 30 students who are my "kids" for the year. But I guess that's the great part of education. There are lots of options available with the same degree. If you need a change, try a new grade level, take a little course work and try a different position. Lots of possibilities. As with anything, I'm fearful of change and then losing out on the unique position I have now. If I let it go, it won't be waiting for me if I want to come back in a few years. There are only 12 positions like mine in our district. There are hundreds of classroom teaching positions and new ones opening all the time. Only time (and prayer) will tell if this is my desire or God's to try something new again.