Transitions and Jumping into the Deep End of the Pool

When I was just 5 years old, I was at the pool with one of the neighborhood moms. She must have thought it was high time that I learn to swim in the deep end on my own. I was scared and hugging onto the edges of the pool, I'm sure. She decided to push me into the pool and low and behold I did swim to the edge, but considering that I can remember it so clearly today not the most comforting way to teach me. Disequilibrium can lead to great strides forward and is probably when we learn, as a teacher I need to be careful that there is no harm done when I am setting my students on the edge. I am transitioning back into the classroom and will start to teach the 2nd graders the Science unit on Insects next week. I have also been asked to take on the Social Studies unit for the 2nd graders too. I think it will be hard to fit it all in and I am currently trying to figure out how to group students for science and social studies. Group work with second graders is a bit different from 5th in my dyad placement. Second graders work best in pairs or individually in groups. Each one needs to observe their own mealworm and compare their findings with their group. The groupings have to take into consideration, differentiation of instruction. I am having to ask for lots of guidance from my master teacher to make sure that I can do justice to this kiddos. In the end, I just will have to jump in the deep end and feel the disequilibrium while I try to make strides toward becoming their teacher.