Washington Business Daily

How much flexibility is in teaching?

I want to become a middle school English teacher, but my question is how much "wiggle room" do you get in the lesson plan? I have some very specific books, concepts, and projects that I want to go over with my class, and some of it is most likely not going to be in the curriculum. So, any middle school teachers, can you please tell me how much flexibility you have in the curriculum and planning what your class is going to do? And I'm looking for answers other than "It depends on the school." Obviously. I'm looking for a general answer. Thanks.

Public Comments

1. I can't speak for middle school, but I can speak for high school and there is little to no wiggle room. Unfortunately, the state frameworks allow for little professionalism anymore. You have to teach what they mandate or students don't perform well on end of course tests.
2. In my district there is a list of things we must cover, but we do have some time to add things. I get to choose exactly what we cover at which point during the trimester. I also determine how I'd like to teach the material. We have a lot of freedom in my building. Other administrators in my district force teachers to teach from curriculum maps at all times.
3. I am a middle school English teacher. As a new teacher, it is in your students' best interest for you to teach with fidelity to the school curriculum/state standards/publisher's curriculum guidelines. Trust me. You will know better after a few years of teaching, but right now, stick with what the experts say is important.
4. There is some wiggle room. However, this wiggle room comes more in how you teach a topic than what you teach as a whole (unless it is an elective course). One thing to keep in mind is the cost of supplies (especially books) that it may be hard or impossible to come by. Good luck!