More Changes are Coming in K12 Education
Teacher Career Change is Here to Give You Options
Many teachers were unprepared for what happened after March 13, 2020. I do not need to point out the changes in the way you teach, how students behave and the additional responsibilities you were given. Everyone are hoping that we'll recover and go back to what was before. Yet there is something in the present circumstances that point otherwise.
Let's zoom out and see what is happening outside your classroom that might cause more changes K12 schooling.
Increase of Alternative Schooling - Parents can now choose alternatives to public education like microschools, charters and use vouchers. One example is Arizona’s School Voucher Program. Arman Sihu wrote in Real Clear Education that “Beyond empowering families with choice” it will “help drive long-overdue efficiencies necessary for traditional school districts that have failed to adapt.” In other words, some public schools might close while alternative schooling increase.
Rising cases - ABC News reported that, “COVID cases rise as kids return to school.” Check the CDC data tracker for trends.
Increase of parental involvement in different issues - one example is Mom’s for Liberty which APNews reported became a major player while Washington Post added that it turned '“parental rights into a rallying cry for conservative parents.”
Other news items and coming political events.
I am not saying these news items are 100% accurate; we all need to double check them for validity. However, all of them are telling us that multiple events are converging and may soon give birth to major changes in education. As 2020 showed, abrupt changes can happen. What can you do to prepare yourself this time? Teacher Career Change or ✪ TCC ✪ has a suggestion.
T for Teacher
First, let’s zoom in find out more about YOU - through Your Own Understanding. Why did you become a teacher? What do you think a teacher should do? Think about it or process it through writing. Break apart the definition of teaching. If you are still in the classroom, list what you do as a teacher. Is that what teaching is all about for you?
My definition of teaching changed when I was an inclusion teacher. I had to support numerous students who were in different classrooms taking different HS Math subjects. I wanted to be in different classrooms at the same time but it was physically impossible. I then prepared support materials in advance but I can only do so much. How can I clone myself? Well, it was physically impossible but with the advent of the web, I can be in more places now as a virtual co-teacher to many. It is still a work in progress and I am making steps towards it. What about you? Go ahead, define teaching as you see it in spite of what your district or school defines it. As I mentioned in my previous post in the untangle series, keep that goal while making steps towards it.
C for Career
What is your expertise? Yes you have at least one. Probably more. What problems do you solve in school? What form or worksheet did you design? If you are overwhelmed and do not know where to start, ask a trusted co-teacher. You might be surprised to discover that they consider you an expert in something you set aside as too easy. Most of the time, something easy for you is hard for somebody else. Once you zeroed in on one expertise, try to monetize it while you are still teaching or looking for another job.
Here at Teacher Career Change, we explore unusual options that monetize what you know called productize. Read more about it in this previous post. The first series here at ✪ TCC ✪ is how to convert a few PDF pages you did into a low-content publication. Subscribe for free so you’ll read future posts on different options.
C for Change
Deciding what to do is useless unless you act on it. Change happens when you consistently do a habit. That is why I am giving you, for free, Find Habits that Help You Create Guided Journal and Habit Tracker. Just put $0 in the price. Future posts during Sundays will be about systemizing your work habits and business, if you decide to work for yourself. Wednesday posts will be about creative options. TCC posts are published weekly in the evening, either on a Wednesday or a Sunday depending on the series. Please check this page for coming series and publication schedule.