My Latest Realization

So, this weekend I had a life changing realization:

I don't like teaching all of the subjects.

I guess the realization came as a result of a conversation I had with my co-worker on Friday afternoon. I was saying how when I was student teaching, I really enjoyed teaching writing. It was fun and didn't seem that hard. But last year and this year, it's been so difficult. I have similar feelings about reading. There are so many fun things you can do with reading, but it's hard to know exactly what, or how, given the various reading levels in your class. And then there's science and social studies. I find them both extremely fascinating, but making the content interesting and engaging enough for 11- and 12-year-olds to find it fascinating is an entirely different story. And I won't even begin to complain about having to teach art, P.E. and computers. That leaves math.

And there it is...I would love it if I only taught math.

But dang it, I'm an elementary school teacher. I'd have to teach middle or high school if I only wanted to do math. But wait! I teach 6th grade math. And most places, and even some places in Utah, have 6th grade in middle school. And guess what else? The curriculum I've taught the past two years is Common Core. Most states have adopted the math Common Core. That means I could teach 6th grade middle school math just about anywhere. And I'm technically certified to teach grades 1-8. I'd probably just have to look into a couple of classes or something to get a math specialization and BOOM. I'd have a job that maybe I'd enjoy. Because the last 6 weeks have NOT been enjoyable. In fact, they've been the opposite of enjoyable.

The only problem with this new plan for my life...I still have a little more than 9 months left of this school year. Dang.