This is my fifth year and every year I teach 5-6 preps. This year, I was assigned 7. I feel as if I am being discriminated against. In our contract it states that the administration will do the best they can to limit teacher preps to a max of 3, but due to budget constraints, this cannot always be done.

Well, there are a bunch of teachers who can easily switch with me so that my burden is less. I am willing to take on collaborative classes, which means I would still have the 7 preps, but would not have to plan and teach 35 lessons per week. I am overwhelmed and feel like I am being pushed out. I compare my schedule to the others, and it is almost comical how unfair it is. I know unfair does not mean being equal, but it does mean limiting that person's ability for success.

So my schedule is as follows:

Remedial English 7th
Remedial English 8
Remedial English 9th and 10th combined
Musical Theatre 7 (60 students)
Musical Theatre 8 (60 students)
Writing Elective for high schoolers 9-12th

I included the amount of students to show how rediculous it is. By the way, I have no art or music background and feel extremely unqualified to teach musical theatre. I would love to just teach and help students with needs, that is what I went to school for.

[lisa53]

That's a lot of preps! I have done 6 before, but 3 is as much as I'm comfortable doing if I'm going to do a reasonably good job.

Could you do the same thing for Musical Theater in grade 7 and 8? That way you would have only one prep. The next year, you could do something different...but again, make it the same for both classes...so you have a 2 year rotating curriculum? (Does that make sense?) Don't know if that would work, but I would certainly try to simplify somehow, and that would be the place to do it.

[Teacher_twins]

Unfortunatly, it is common for the English teachers to also be thrown a Theatre class. I don't know where you are from or what your licensing process it, but maybe kindly remind your administration that you are not certified (by the state) to teach musical theatre and you don't feel that students will get what they hoped for.

My schedule is:
1. AP Statistics
2. AP Statistics
3. AP Calculus AB
4. Musical Theatre 1 (70 students)
5. Lunch
6. AP Statistics
7. Musical Theatre 2 & 3 (45 students)
8. Conference

[missenglish]

That is just crazy! Do you have to submit formal lesson plans for each class? The most I've ever had is three preps. For the last three years I have only had one prep, and I know how extremely lucky I am. (English II)

[AMDucky]

That's insane! Perhaps you can look into transferring? I don't know how you have time in each day to prep for 7? The most I've had is 4. Currently I have 3 and have had it that way for the last 2 years. I'm comfortable with 3 ... At least I don't get bored teaching.

[ChrisLit]

Sorry, I really only have sympathy to offer.
I teach

1-English III
2-English IV
3-English II
4-Help with Intervention block
5-Lunch duty (while eating my lunch)
6-English 1
7-Plan
8-English I
9-English III

So I guess that's 4 preps?