Sharing a classroom

[eyd]

I have been a teacher for six years I have taught kindergarten for 5 years and first grade one year. I teach within the Bilingual Program which means I teach in Spanish for 75% of the day I also teach in English for 40 minutes.

My new principal hired a new kindergarten teacher and we are to share a classroom. Before she even met me she went around and told all of my colleagues that I was very unfriendly and unwelcoming.

She then stated that she wanted to divide the classroom her side and my side and that she did not want my students to touch anything on her side of the room.

She also walks in and out of my classroom interrupting my instruction but when it is her turn in the classroom she locks me out.

To explain her behavior she told me that she was bipolar. By the way she has 19 students while I have 30. I just feel extremely overwhelmed because she says that she loses control of her group halfway into her program. And would like for me to stay and help her.

Please help!

[Boxcar]

Wow.

First, I have to say that having a disability is not an excuse for rude behavior! There are many wonderful teachers who do have problems, but do well.

I would tell her that splitting a classroom in half will not work. There are state rules that dictate how big a classroom has to be to accomadate a certain number of children. With 30 kids, you probably are required by the law to use the entire room. If you put it to her this way, she might find it more idifficult to argue. After all, she has to comply with the school rules.

Then, talk to her about locking you out. Explain that it is a safety hazard. If something happened to her, you can't count on the students being able to open the door for the adults. They may be too scared or just not physically able to. Also, point out what would happen if a student got hurt or sick. It is likely that she will be dealing with the student, and she won't be able to leave that situation to unlocki the door to admit help. Locking classroom doors, except during school lockdowns, is not allowed in most districts.

I assume that you each teach a 1/2 day section of the kindergarten. If there is anyway to make this possible, try to have her take the morning slot. After she is done teaching, she will leave and be out of your hair for the rest of your teaching time. If this isn't possible, tell her you need to discuss this situation as well. Inform her that you will not interrupt her teaching, and she should not interrupt yours. This will be most difficult to enforce if she doesn't want to do it that way, but try not to worry about it too much. Your students will get used to her coming in and out. I've know class who were constantly being observed by colege students. At first, they found this distracting. Soon enough, they learned to tune it out like everything else. This might be the only thing you can do.

What about the possesiveness? Well, that might be easier to fix. Since you cannot split the room as I've said above, you can do other things. I'm going to assume that most of the books and toys are the school's. If the other teacher adds her own things, that is great. I can understand that she is protective of them. This is why you might want to invest in a Rubbermaid bin. Tell her to put her special things away in the bin if she doesn't want your studnets to see them. If it is a hassle for her, that's just too bad. You can only compromise so much.

I'd tell her I'll help out with her group for a few weeks. Make sure to set a specific date that you will stop helping her. Try to model as much as you can during this period. If she complains about your help, you can always pull out early. Perhaps, she will be more cooperative if she gets to know you and sees you in action. Sometimes, if you do one favor, people start to work with you better.

Now, I'm going to go out on a limb here and make some assumptions. This teacher seems very insecure. It is likely that she has used her special needs as a crutch and an excuse for some time now. Her learned helplessness is not good for anyone. She needs to step up and take responiblity. If this is her mental mindset that she does not change, you are going to find it a challenge to work with her. I wouldn't, however, let her use her needs as an excuse. If she explains rude behavor as being bipolar, tell her you understand she is challenged by her special need. Tell her that you would like to help her overcome this challenge, so you are going to ask that she correct or apologize for what she's done. If she has talked bad about you to collegues, ask her to explain to them that what she said wasn't true and just a skewed perspective. Try to be as patient as possible. It is hard to come to a new school, and it is more difficult when you have a difficulty. She may be afraid that people will judge her because of it, and so she gossips and argues with other teachers to take the spotlight of herself.

I hope some of my ideas help you out. You have a strong case for the two that are based on safety and state regulations. The others will be harder to deal with, but I hope you can work them out. I'm sure you know not to have all these addressed in one conversation, That would feel too much like an attack to her. Also, you know to use "I" statements and all that stuff that makes for good communication, right?

Good luck! I hope it all works out!

[mopar]

It is hard to get used to sharing a classroom. This might be a big shock for her that she needs to share and she may not be okay with the idea but agreed to get a job. To set the ground off right, she needs to see how sharing a classroom can be a wonderful thing.
Are you teaching AM? And she is teaching PM? If that is the case, do you stay in the school when she is teaching? Many half day kindergarten teachers don't even stay in the building. She may also be upset that she was only hired part time and couldn't find a full time position.
These are issues that she will learn to deal with in time. However, for right now, you need a working situation for you. I would begin with the locking out and interruptions. Do you find her entering and leaving to be a disruption? If you do, speak to her about it. Let her know that you have trouble concentrating when she is coming and going. If it doesn't bother you, don't mention it. Try not to throw it back in her face.
I would discuss the safety reasons stated above to ensure that she doesn't lock you out. Make sure that they are in her favor. She may not want you in the room because she doesn't want an observation of her developing teacher skills. Be mindful if she is knew to the field.

[mopar]

So that might explain her position??? But now for the action to take. First, you should have a key to your classroom. If you don't, get one. Have you noticed her using your materials? I would simply let her know that its okay to share because then you can best help the students. Point out awesome materials that you have that she could use.
Do not stay to help her teach. You will only be doing her job and not getting the pay for it. Offer to help her if she wants to come in during your planning times or some other duty free time. Do not do her work for her.
I would ask her about the statements to the other staff. Or ask the other staff what she said. You have been there for awhile, they know you. They also know what she said isn't true. And definitely speak with your principal. Let him/her know what is going on but not to get involved. But you don't need the other teaching speaking to the principal behind your back...what a terrible thing.
I would also let her know that the room cannot be split in half because you have more students than she does. You need to have enough room for desks and other supplies. But make sure that she has counter space and cabinets too. That's a hard thing to give up but something you need as a new teacher.
Keep plugging away by asking to borrow something of hers or asking about an art craft she did. Kill her with kindness. It really is the only way to overcome this situation.

[eyd]

Thanks so much for your advice. I am definitely going to discuss the locked doors and disruptions sometime next week.

I will approach the other issues at a later time so it doesn't seem like I am attacking her.

[mopar]

Definitely let us know how it goes and if there is anything more we can do to help.

[poetictails]

Not to offend anyone (and I really hope I don't)... but this teacher sounds as though she is not on the right medication or not taking it as prescribed, either way it doesnt sound as if she has her bipolar under control.
You should do reasearch on bipolar and see if that may help you understand and (decide) if that is the problem or if she is just a (not very good person) person that treats others like crap and shows no respect. I imagine she loses control of her class because she has no control over herself and children know when and how to push buttons and can see if she is stressing out.
Does she show the children respect?

[eyd]

Her students are afraid of her. And they come to me for everything. The lunch ladies and the teacher aides that supervise lunch say that she grabs and yells at the students all the time. They tell me to report her to administration but I tell them that because I don't see her doing it I can't do it.

She does not respect my students at all. She tells them that because they are speaking Spanish that she does not understand and they will have to come to me. She has made several comments already that I should only be teaching in English and they are not being service properly because I am providing instruction in their native language Spanish.

The principal does not do anything about the situation. When he asks about her I just inform him that she is not following our curriculum and the pacing schedule. She said that she was going to do her own thing. She did not really care to do what we were doing as a team.

My sister is bipolar and she is not like her. She takes her medication and is being treated by a doctor. Also I joined a bipolar discussion group to find out more about it since each case is different.

[mopar]

Do you teach in the room at the same time ever? I might mention that you heard she was yelling at kids in the lunchroom to the principal. Just pass along the information. Also, has she been evaluated yet? Hopefully the principal will get answers from that.

[Boxcar]

Her poor students!!!

Can you find an excuse to be in the room when she's teaching? For example, working on a bulletin board or something. Then you'd be able to observe her and make documentation. I'd certainly ask the aides to be documenting the incidents. Any time she grabs a student or yells in an inappropriate way, they should write it down with the time, date, and what happened.

[eyd]

She doesn't teach with me because she does not speak Spanish and that is a big problem for her. She can not help my students at all. That is what she says. After I received complaints from parents about her I try to be in the classroom for at least 1 hour. During the hour she does not yell at the students and everything is fine. Due to other issues I have not been able to stay until 4:00 when her day is over. I keep saying that one day I will. Just to see for myself what is going on.

[mopar]

Are you getting paid to stay until 4? If not, that is not your job to do that so definitely don't feel obligated. However, if staying is something you want to do for your own knowledge...go right ahead and try if you can. Be aware that she might not do any behaviors with you there. Try standing outside the classroom and listening in.
Definitely just keep documenting. The principal needs to see what is going on and needs to find time to wait outside her room.

[Boxcar]

If the teacher is having trouble communicating with the students who don't speak English, there are some things she can do.

Picture cards and hand gestures can be a start. At least, the student will be able to tell about basic needs and she will be able to give basic instructions.

She might also be able to learn a few verbs like go, need, want, stop, to be, and have. Combined with words like it, that, and those, these words can serve many purposes. They can be a beginning, anyway.

Is the language barrier what is bothering her so much?

[mopar]

It is best for you to teach in a bilingual way. I have seen many students that have no language as they never fully learned to read and write in spanish but never were given the opportunity to learn english either. It is very hard for them and many of these students have IEPs later in their lives but are truly not learning disabled but never given the opportunity to learn.
Plus your students probably know some english that she can use to help them. And I'm sure that you have picture supports everywhere that she can reference. You might try offering her the opportunity of attending a bilingual conference for working with bilingual students.

[Chef Dave]

Have your brought your concerns to the attention of the building administrator? Assuming you have done a good job, you're bound to have more credibility than a new hire.

If you have not already done so, you should begin documenting everything. Should problems escalate later on, it would be handy if you had a log that documented these problems.

I have to wonder why a teacher who is new to your school would go about bad mouthing you. This doesn't seem prudent or professional.