Job advice requested

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I have a dilemma...I have two part-time jobs, both that I enjoy. I work as a teacher's aide from 7:30-12:30 Mon-Thurs, and as a piano teacher 4 nights a week.

My problem is, I am also working towards my master's in education. In order to be certified, I not only need to take classes, but I need to observe classrooms for 200 hours while taking classes. I can't use my job at the school because it has to be unpaid...and I literally don't have have enough hours in the week to get everything done! I only have 5 hours per week that I can use to observe classrooms due to my schedule. I am feeling overwhelmed.

I know that I should probably just quit my school job, but part of me wants to just stick it out till the end of the year. I really enjoy the kids, and the teacher I work with is great, it really is good experience. But, I could use those 20 hours to do homework and observe classrooms, and I make almost twice as much per hour at my other job, AND I could go to teaching every week night.

I'm really just stuck. I LIKE my jobs, but I would also like more time. I know this is long, but any advice/insight would be appreciated!

[Freedom]

When do you need to have the observation time completed? By this June? or later?

I'm just wondering about quitting a teaching position mid school year and how that will look down the road on a resume. Also what does that mean for the students and the teacher you are working with? If the timing permits, maybe get the observation done next year? And not sign up for the aide position for next year?

[AbbyMom]

Do you have an advisor? When Hubby was working on his masters while working full time, his advisor was EXTREMELY helpful in enabling him to graduate a quarter earlier.

Perhaps your advisor might have a "workaround?"

Just a thought. Good luck to you.

[Karen]

From your post, it seems like you know the right thing to do. Maybe speak with your advisor, see if there is any way your current teaching position could count, and if not, make plans to leave that position in as graceful a way as possible. The children will probably be surprised, but will understand that you have your own school work you need to do, so you can be a teacher some day! I bet they will be proud and supportive.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Thanks for the input, everyone. I still haven't made my decision yet. I feel like I will have to quit though, this week I am swamped with school work and I had to leave my TA job early to make a dent in it. I might give my notice next week, but I am torn because it would look better to stay and I respect the teacher a lot, and would miss the kids.

When do you need to have the observation time completed? By this June? or later?
If the timing permits, maybe get the observation done next year?

I have observe for 200 hours over the course of my study, but each course has a specific required hours, so I can't decide when I want to do them. It's not just the observation, it's also the readings, the papers, and everything else that is getting to be too much.

Maybe speak with your advisor, see if there is any way your current teaching position could count, and if not, make plans to leave that position in as graceful a way as possible.

I spoke with my advisor at the start of the program, and he said Colorado law says observation must be unpaid. It seems unfair, but I guess it sort of makes sense! They want to make sure people are really doing what they should be.