Last year, we did "double Specials" meaning that we had them for 1 hr and 30 min with half of that time being devoted to a Reading Special. We read a loud to the kids and then they had to do an activity on it. Well that was flushed because teachers often didn't plan anything for us (they were supposed to. surprise.) and it wasn't really effective as an instructional time. This year, they decided to do it differently and give each team one day a week to have the last hour and a half of the day to plan together. Well someone has to 'babysit' the kids.... Guess who? Now let me preface this by saying that it's not a bad idea. It's just the way that it was presented and carried out that has left a bad taste in my mouth.
The four teachers who are involved in this were called in to a meeting on Tuesday. We were told that it would be a rotation by quarters, so we would see the same class in each level for 8-9 weeks then rotate. This time is supposed to be spent on a subject or topic of our choosing (completely open to us) with a presentable outcome or project, multicultural focused, tied in to our school's magnet theme (Spanish Immersion/Cultural Diversity) AND connect to either Common Core or my Essential Standards. And our proposals with material requests and costs were due on Friday.
Less than 4 days. Oh and you start on Monday with no time to get materials. Let me tell you, that is Not the way to get me excited about a project. Especially one that involves me and 25 kindergarteners together for 90 minutes.
All that said, I decided to focus on musical theater since it's something I really enjoy and isn't too far a stretch for me to accomplish. I decided to have 3-5 do one together and K-2 do one, working on it separately in the times that I had with each grade level. So I spent some time searching for age-appropriate, short, easy (but FUN) musicals and found 4 for each group that I liked (a different one each quarter). I emailed my proposal with a summary, material list (the musical books) and pricing to our principal but was told that $300 was too much, I needed to trim it down. I cut it to 4 (2 for each level, repeated in alternate quarters) and she said that was fine. HOWEVER our financial secretary had left for another job and we couldn't do anything until our new one was here. So I have to go how many weeks without the materials? And you still want something presentable? Right.
Long story short, I found a website that I could order them on approval (without paying!) for 30 days. I picked Pirates! The Musical for the older group and Squirm! for the younger ones. I had them 2-day airmailed to me, got them Saturday and started working on Pirates! The Musical with the 5th grade yesterday. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. Third grade is today :) I'm actually kind of excited. Maybe I'll get to make a pirate costume too.
If you are interested in what we are doing, I will be posting more about it as we go as well as pictures. You can also look them up on www.popplersmusic.com which is the website that has saved me.
K - 2nd grades
3rd - 5th grades
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