Thank you! I made all of the forms myself in PowerPoint. I’m sure you can find something similar on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers).

Great questions! Sounds like a good topic for a video. 10 years is a long time to do the same/similar thing (total respect to you!), and you might be telling yourself that you’ve grown all you can in that place, so it’s time for change to keep yourself growing. How I Knew: I only wanted to teach English and didn’t want to have to teach multiple subjects like elementary teachers of core disciplines usually have to. My personality is not naturally motherly/warm, and I don’t have the amount of patience, nor the natural praise-giving, that younger children need. I don’t mind younger children in small doses, but I know spending the amount of time that teachers do with younger children isn’t what’s best for them or me. My personality and sarcastic humor works better with high schoolers because they generally show affection through clapbacks and jokes, and don’t need as much constant reassurance; doesn’t mean I don’t show them praise or patience, but they require less since they are generally more sure of themselves/independent. I get bored easily and so dealing with multiple personalities rather than the same 20ish all year is better for me. I enjoy the stages of teenage life (how students are becoming adults with their own thoughts/opinions) and subsequently the critical thinking that comes along with readings at that level. It’s important that my mind is challenged/stimulated if I’m going to do the job day in and day out. The Pros and Cons might be off or irrelevant since we teach different subjects, but here’s what my friends (who teach the same and different subjects) and I consider the pros/cons: Pros: Atmosphere (rallies, sports, spirit events, dances, clubs), teenagers can have more critical/advanced discussions and work, teenagers can be funny/respectful/independent/ have more variety and color to their personalities and interests, exciting phases of life that students share with their teachers (learning to drive, quinces, voting for the 1st time, sweet 16, etc.), teenagers are eager to enact change at school/in the community, dealing with multiple personalities daily (good change/breather if you and a student’s personalities clash), more variety of classes/topics to teach, more discussions about topics/interest that might also be your own, added acknowledgment/support of diversity. Cons: Lower excitement for school/learning, increased grading/planning since teachers have more classes of students with higher class sizes, higher academic pressure on students and teachers, uncomfortable life situations more frequently (suicide, abuse, bad dating relationships, discriminatory/unsupportive family members, grooming), dealing with multiple personalities daily (if you’re someone who gets overstimulated easily), tougher academic standards and data pressure with fewer years to make up the gaps from elementary/middle school, less parent/guardian involvement or snow plow/helicopter parent/guardian, lack of responsibility/accountability for appropriate grade/age level, increased violence/threat of violence, drug/alcohol use, car accidents, more intentional disrespect (racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, arguments, doxing/harassment), tension from political elections. Many of the pros/cons are more tied to the fact that high schoolers are older, so they’re starting to experience more of the world and have the words to talk about their experience. Those hormones can be an absolute roller coaster, and teachers have to figure out what students are learning because they haven’t been taught vs they know better and are making negative choices. Teaching content doesn’t necessarily change beyond making it appropriate for the grade level, though there is always the pressure of now grades really count (graduation), and that can be a huge shift for freshmen; it’s the outside factors that can truly influence the good and bad of teaching at the high school level. My Advice: Dig into why you are terrified of teaching high school (maybe journal or talk to a friend or therapist)-is it the age level, the content, past experiences, the glamorized vs the mundane that makes you more reluctant? Watch a few SmartieStyle videos (she started as an elementary school teacher and transitioned into middle school), shadow a middle school and high school art teacher (middle school might be the nice blend if you don’t want to jump straight into high school), try teaching high school for a bit (there’s nothing saying you have to stay if you don’t like it, and CA teachers take their years of experience and sick leave with them when they move to a new school/district, so hopefully where you are gives you that same freedom). I hope this was helpful! Have a great rest of the school year and good luck on your decision 💕

@TeachingNaturall THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for taking time out of your day to provide me with such helpful information and advice. I truly appreciate it! You have given me a lot to think about and reflect on. Thank you! If it's okay with you, I will definitely keep you updated and check out SmartieStyle and journal about it and pray on it as well. 🙂 Take care! Have a great rest of your week.

@michellemp1626 You’re so very welcome!! I’m glad I was able to give you some useful information. I would absolutely love for you to keep me updated on your journey! SmartieStyle transitioned to middle school around the time of the pandemic, so I think her videos from 20-21 will be the most focused on that transition, but she is a fantastic teacher, so anything from her will probably be helpful. Sending love and good vibes 💕💕

@TeachingNaturall I appreciate the love and good vibes. I actually just found out that I will need to move classrooms at one of my schools. I travel between 2 elementary schools. I'm at one school for 2 days and the other school 3 days. So I found out that at the school I'm at 2 days, I will be moving to the book room. 😖🤦🏻‍♀️My principal has not officially told me yet, I'm hoping she changes her mind, but at this point, I'll have to wait and see. However, while I wait, I think I need to keep my options open and start researching other opportunities. Thanks for "listening". 🙂

@michellemp1626 Oh that is incredibly inconvenient! Hopefully you don’t have to do all of that moving this late in the school year. If you do have to move, hopefully you have some great friends who can help you out.