Requiem for a class

Next year, my school's schedule is changing and things will look very different. I'm not opposed to change. However, I sometimes wonder about the reasons, and the foresight and forethought that come along with these seemingly abrupt changes.

Our new schedule will have huge ramifications for the  ELL program here.  The other ELL teacher currently teaches 2 pullout ELL classes, and I teach 3. Next year, I will only have one of those classes to teach: pullout social studies; my colleague will be teaching pullout English. As this realization dawns on me, I feel like am in mourning for the classes I will not be able to teach. 

I love teaching my social studies class, but there is something extra special about my other 2 classes, Oral Communication and Academic Language. Since I can adapt almost anything to those categories, I have been able to do a wide range of units with my students. I adhere to the ELL WIDA standards,  but I have the freedom to develop my own curriculum. In this era of less and less choice for teachers,more scripted programs, and standardized testing, I have appreciated this independence.  We have covered everything from cross-cultural communication and culture shock, film, newspaper-making, civil rights and injustice, stereotypes, diversity, acts of kindness and empathy, with writing and speaking infused into everything the students do. I have been able to be creative with the curriculum, and do a variety of teacher-centered/student-centered lessons, multimedia projects, games, and more.

Next year, I won't have that luxury. While on the one hand I am looking forward to co-teaching and hoping it works well, on the other hand, I know that for my students, it will be a very different scenario. I don't think it's a bad idea to integrate them more into "mainstream" classes. But, I do mourn the loss of the space and time I have with them, in a place where they feel like they can be themselves, and be their best selves. 

It makes me wonder: are we keeping the best interests of ELL students at heart? Who is our new workshop/co-teaching/longer class model designed for? Who will benefit? And will my students be supported in the ways they need? I sincerely hope that the integrity and caring nature of our program will not suffer.