Crazy Schedule

The new school year started yesterday, and I was on vacation when they were putting together the timetable for the year.  Which means I came into school on Monday with no idea as to when or what I was teaching.  This year has had a lot of changes to it.  First, I got three new co-teachers, all of whom seem really nice and wonderful.  The school made the English department bigger, instead of 5 teachers (including myself), there are now 6 teachers.  Which also means I have more classes.  As most of you know, I teach 18 classes a week (5 classes of first years, 5 classes of second years, 5 classes in the college, and 3 special classes) or I used to teach that.  With the addition of the new teacher, I now have 5 new classes of third years.  So I am teaching a total of 23 classes a week, which is unheard of at the high school level.  Most High School teachers average about 12 classes total, with almost none teaching above grade 2.  Me teaching the college is why my classes were above average before but with the addition of the third years, I am way above that.

Now, these averages are only for High School teachers.  I know many elementary school teachers and middle school teachers who teach upwards of 22+ a week.  Elementary schools being the worst work load out of them all.  The difference being, in elementary school the teachers generally don't create their own curriculum for their normal classes.  The only time they create their own stuff is for their after school classes, which can be tough.  Elementary is one of the hardest to teach, because of the variety.  Middle school isn't that bad, from what I have heard.  Just a bunch of hormones.  High schools generally have to create their own curriculum and run the classes but they get a lighter load.  Generally, high schools are supposed to be the easiest job out there.  But they are hard to find anymore.

Anyways, these new hours does give me overtime, because I am teaching more than I am supposed to teach in a week.  Which is nice.  Not going to say no to extra money, especially when I only have to create one new lesson plan a week.  The thing that is going to be not so wonderful is when I have to teach on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  Those days have 6 classes total out of 7 classes in the day.  Those days are going to be long and hard.

On the bright side, I get to see my lovely third years.  I have been with these kids since they were first years and I have seen them grow with their English over the years.  Yes the extra classes will be hard but at the same time, I am genuinely happy about being able to teach these kids.