Results: Participants and Single-Subject Teaching

The results are in! I was able to get 27 completed surveys and the results will be posted below. After all the work I've done, reading articles and books and trying to find research, the survey has been most telling. Since the results are a bit extensive, they will be posted in chunks.
This is chunk number one, which is about how educators feel about teaching one subject as opposed to all subjects in K-8.
What did I learn from this experience? I thought about the fact that students spend up to 8 years in a setting with the same students every day, then are abruptly transitioned into having six separate classes that aren't guaranteed to have the same students in each, plus homeroom. Students have generally five minutes between each class to change books and socialize before they need to be in their next class. To me, this represents two drastically different approaches to how teaching is done. Middle school and high school are more like the college setting (different teachers for each class, no guarantee the same people will be in every class you take) but they do have differences (class scheduling and part of what you take are completely your decision). After all this, I feel that if we are to prepare our students for college, we need to give them environments that help them prepare for the environment of college. That doesn't mean interconnecting subjects, but giving them the opportunity to see where the differences will be. I personally am for single-subject teaching, but I see the benefits of teaching all subjects as well.
So, for your results:
Out of 27 people surveyed, 67% were teaching students, and 33% were educators.


When asked if they would be interested in single-subject teaching, I got mixed reviews. 59% said they would, 30% said they would not, and 11% said they would consider it.
For those who would, their reasons were:

• Not feeling qualified in some subjects as much as others.
• It gives educators the chance to enhance their personal knowledge of that subject, which can help with flexible techniques in teaching students.
• Having more enthusiasm for subjects they are comfortable with/enjoy.
• Being secure in content knowledge.
• "Elementary educators should have the ability to be 'content specialists' as well, because I think students learn better from someone who really is an expert in the subject."
• "The need for differentiation is too great to be effective within the time constraints given. Reinforcement is key to continuous learning and having too many students at different levels makes the process almost ineffective... unless you have a Paraprofessional or access to a co-teacher."
• Alleviates stress of trying to create an all-encompassing classroom.
• Much easier to plan the day.
• Teaching multiple subjects and the threat of evaluations stresses the staff in my school.
• It gives you time to research so that you are always up to date on the best practices.

Those who said they wouldn't, their reasons were:

• All subjects are related and showing them how they relate stimulates learning and deepens understanding.
• Students need to make connections between subjects.
• Burn out.