My co-teaching journey is definitely diverse, mercurial, and ever-changing. Sometimes I feel like the bookend doing my very best to be useful. Sometimes I feel like the bookshelf because I hold some information that I happily share with my colleagues. Sometimes I feel like the book that everyone can't live without. My status changes class-to-class, and day-to-day within each class!
Sometimes I feel like the book that everyone can't live without! I feel like the book when I am engaging directly with students. Sometimes I lead whole-class activities, sometimes I lead a small group of students at a station with a mini-lesson. When I feel like the book I am building relationships with students and getting to know them. We are teaching, exploring, and learning together.
Sometimes I feel like the bookshelf because I hold some information that I excitedly share with my colleagues, admin, and/or families. I feel like the bookshelf when I share one of my newsletters. I feel like the bookshelf when I lead professional development opportunities. When I feel like the bookshelf I feel a bit like I am on the periphery, peeking in, patiently hoping I can do more.
Sometimes I feel like the bookend doing my very best to be useful. I feel like the bookend when I drop in to a class and don't know what to expect. I feel like the bookend when I arrive at a class and they aren't there... lol. I feel like the bookend when a colleagues says they don't need me this day because they have to get an activity done for report cards. When I feel like the bookend I wonder if I have been unclear in sharing my role in the school.
I think I might be able to say I am enjoying this co-teaching journey. I like and appreciate the opportunities I find every day. I like and appreciate the diversity of the support I am able to offer my colleagues, their classes, our students and our students' families. I think I am getting better and embracing and challenging the mercurial and ever-changing aspects of my co-teaching journey!
I can really identify with "...I wonder if I have been unclear in sharing my role in the school." I know that general ed teachers are overwhelmed. So I feel like I could have been more supportive to some by being more specific. Great post, Sherry.