Departmentalization in ES: Admin suggesting teachers switch rather than students
My building has been departmentalized from 3-6 for 2 years now. Generally, all the teachers enjoy it and we have seen positive outcomes academically and in regard to SEL.
Our new principal wanted to stop departmentalization altogether. Realizing that staff would basically walk out of the job after having experienced such a better work load the passed 2 years, they have changed their mind.
The principal is now suggesting however, that students stay in their classrooms and teachers switch rooms for departmentalization. All in the effort to lower transition times.
We all have many thoughts on this-- primarily having to do with management. Who will supervise each classroom when the teachers switch rooms? Sharing a classroom with another teacher will pose new organization problems- would that also impact the transition times? Transitioning the students also provide a movement break for them. Would we then have to incorporate movement breaks in addition to the teacher transition?
The teachers in my building are not receptive to this- nor am I.
Has anyone else had a model like this? We are struggling to wrap our head around it.