Changes Changes Changes

CHANGES! I went MIA on this thing for quite some time. I had a rough year last year and honestly I was just trying to survive! Some years are better than others.

But! Drumroll please! I accepted a new position in a new district. I will be the 2-5 self contained teacher at Tega Cay Elementary. I have never been so excited to be apart of a new school and district and I am really looking forward to my amazing class!! I will update much more soon! Happy Back to School my friends!

Dear Tired Girl at the Bar

Dear Tired Girl at the Bar,

I see you.

I see you with your messy hair flung on the top of your head. 

I see you.

I see you with the bags under your eyes and the marker all over your pants.

I see you with the look of worry on your face because you were given another daunting task to complete by Thursday afternoon. I understand that although you may be allowed to leave your job at 2:30, you stay there until 5 most nights working on things. I understand that those bags under your eyes come from sleepless nights and nights full of worrying about things that are out of your control. Worrying that the little babies in your room are loved and safe and have food to eat when they leave your room. I understand that your job doesn't end once you hit the parking lot and that those bags also come from staying up to make lesson plans and centers that are engaging and will make the children want to learn. I see you sitting there with 200 tabs open in your mind. I see you thinking about the IEP meetings and how to accommodate the wants and needs of all the different kids in your room on a daily basis. I see you thinking about the staff meeting on Monday, the tutoring sessions on Tuesday, the after school club you are a coach of on Wednesday, the IEP meeting on Thursday, and the parent conference on Friday. I see you wanting to throw in the towel because it is almost state testing time and you are worried that these tests are going to tear apart your class. I see you thinking of things to tell them so they understand they are so much more than a test. I see you sitting at the bar, with a drink in your hand wanting to change the world, but wondering how you are going to make it until summer break. I see you, but most importantly I am you. And I want to thank you. While most people will never understand the love and passion you have for your job, even though not many people around you respect you, I do. I understand. And I thank you. Keep doing what you do, and I promise you, you will change the world. 

GOTR

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend the ten year anniversary breakfast for GOTR of Union County. I have participated in GOTR in Illinois, but this is my first year as a coach in North Carolina. This morning, I was fortunate enough to listen to Molly Barker, the founder of Girls on the Run. Now, many people may think that this program is a running club, or something where the girls just go to run after school. It is SO much more than that. This program teaches young girls to be unique, different, caring, hard working, and more than anything never settle for anything less than their best. When I was listening to a story Molly was telling, about a little girl who was developmentally delayed and was able to finish a race with their help of her coaches and have her entire community watch and cheer her on to the finish line, I started to cry. These little girls, the ones that could be going through more than we will ever experience in a lifetime have the chance to come together and teach each other just what it means to be a girl and show compassion for each other. So Cheers to the new season, and I hope that when these girls grow up to be future teachers, doctors, and singers, that they remember these special moments. :)

Almost There!

Hi Friends!! Only 4 more school days until my fall break!! I have spent the past two days at a workshop for CPI. It is the same workshop in every state, so I have already taken this when I was in Illinois. Crazy right? Next week we have a workday on Wednesday and then the home stretch!! I am heading to the Bahamas next week. Any fun fall plans for you all?

It's a Craaaaaazy year.

WOO! What a beginning to the year it has been!! Sorry I haven't written in so long, my year so far has been crazy! I know we all have busy lives, and crazy days, and a ton of stuff to do but I seriously give MAD PROPS to those that still find time to create these amazing lessons on TPT. I am not complaining, as they have been my saving grace, but how do you super people do that?

So, like I said, my class keeps me on my toes. We never have a dull moment. I am still getting adjusted to being with my kids from the time they are off the bus to the time they go home. I don't have a planning period and my kids go to specials at different times so they are always by my side. 

We are really trying to work on our transitions. That is what seems to be the most difficult for us right now. What are ways you transition from one activity to another? 

Until next time, and I promise it won't be in two months. :)

Bring it on 2015-2016!

Please excuse the nature of my picture it was a LONG first day. 2015-2016 year underway!

Back to School…Back to School...

Happy Wednesday Friends!! This week was my first week back to school for the year and I have been helping out with the Kindergarten Summer Enrichment Program where we test the incoming kinders on letters, sounds, and basic math for the upcoming year. There were quite a few littles babes that just wanted to talk everyone's ears off!! I also moved to a new classroom. This year I will be in a Separate Setting EC Self Contained Classroom instead of a Resource room. I have no ides who my kids are I just know things are going to be interesting this year!! Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Pictures coming soon! :)