For the last four years, I’ve been working as a STEM coach in a few different elementary schools. It’s been a job I’ve enjoyed, and one of my favorite aspects of the job is the lack of routine. Over the years I’ve done a lot of things many times, but it’s rarely been two days in a row.
Quick aside: I’m going back into the classroom next year, and one of the things I’m looking forward to is the routine. I’ll let you know when I figure out what that’s all about.
Anyway, one of the things I’ve done this year is help some teachers by collecting materials they can use with their ELA curriculum. The topic I collected material for yesterday was space and astronomy. Curating a collection of videos and websites took up most of my day.
I like doing that sort of thing because I always learn something new. Even though I’m gathering material for an elementary-age audience, the material is interesting and in-depth. Now that I think of it, I’ve always said one the best parts of being a teacher is the learning–I love it!
Yet There is Method 
Your slice shows so much about you – a learn, someone who enjoys the quiet of searching and curating, someone who likes helping others. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for reading, Sally! I do enjoy learning new things and sharing them with others. As you said, the quiet of a search is nice, too!
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This will be quite a shift, Tim, to go back into the classroom. One of the reasons I volunteered to be the remote Kindergarten teacher for my district was that I longed for a routine change. After 20 years, I thought it was time. How lucky your teachers are to have you supporting them.
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It will be a huge shift, but I’m looking forward to it. I miss having a class. 🙂
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Learning new things is also one of my favorite parts of teaching. I love cross-curriculum connections and once created a unit in English on astronomy. It was in the early internet days. Teaching speech kept me constantly learning all sorts of things.
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Glenda, I don’t doubt that your speech gig kept you on your toes and learning. Things were a lot different back in the pre-internet days; I love the resources we have available to us now!
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Oh!! I want one of you! Our school doesn’t have a coach for any subject and a few of us would love to have that relationship with someone who could search for things for us and then talk out how best to use what was found. I think I would really love a coaching job for ELA, but I’m certain I would miss my own students as well as the routine.
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I hope you get one! I can’t wait to get back into the routine. 🙂
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I think I would really like the job you have now because I also love learning new things- but, that said, I also would miss getting to know a “class.” The relationships you can build as a constant presence in a child’s life are so important. But, I’m glad you were able to work as a resource teacher/coach as well. When I taught garden club, my “class” stayed the same each year but I was mobile. I would have done just about anything to have a “space” to call my own. I brought so many resources with me for my lessons and projects that I was often teased about needing an office. I hope you enjoy the shift back to the classroom. Do you know what grade level?
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The itinerant lifestyle is a bear! I oftentimes have four different bags with me, and sometimes I use a small hand truck! I’m not sure about a grade level yet, but I’m hoping for two through four, with third being my first choice.
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Yes, it is hard to carry everything with you all the time. On the other hand, cleaning out a classroom with years of materials stored inside it is intimidating too! You’ll be great for those grade levels – I love third graders! Good luck!
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Carol, I’ve been carrying my materials with me for four years, and now I get to go through everything I stored when I left the classroom. When I retire, my goal is to start weeding out well in advance!
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I hope you can, Tim I have a good friend who will retire this year. She has been a teacher for over 35 years – it will take her some time to clean out. I’m actually kind of worried about her – she’s such a dedicated teacher and loves her students.
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What an exciting shift you’ll be experiencing next year!! I, too, love learning. Your current position sounds like a sweet gig 🙂
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It’s going to be a big change, and you’re right–this has been a great job!
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