Classroom teacher for 5 years, out-of-classroom teacher for 10 years before that. (I was a preschool teacher, a youth leadership director, a nanny, and a summer camp director. I dare you to tell me that those things don't count as teaching.)
I teach full-day kindergarten at This School, in The City, in Canada. This School is private (it seems I have built a career working with children of privilege, but that is another story.) Since 2010, I have also been the Kindergarten Curriculum Coordinator, which adds a whole other world of challenge.
Overall, I'm lucky, and I know that. This School has a maximum class size of 20. I have a classroom aide in my room about 75% of the time. The content I am required to teach is extremely developmentally appropriate (and FUN!) for a class of 4, 5, and 6 year olds. My students get music and phys. ed. with specialist teachers, and do supplementary early literacy activities for 2 hours a week. They generally arrive at school well-fed, well-rested, and adequately dressed.
That said, some days it is all I can do to keep all my marbles in one jar.... And THAT, my friends, is where this blog comes in...
