A Fullfilling Year

It is hard to believe my first year of teaching has come to an end. It was an amazingly tiresome, yet rewarding year. I made mistakes, but I learned from them. I laughed with my students often. I had days when I was unorganized, and I didn't get to everything I had planned. I enjoyed recess when I could watch my students be children. I had days when we threw up the planned lesson and layed on the carpet together and read out loud. I had days that made me think what am I doing in this profession. I learned that teaching is not for the weak, it for the strong hearted. But you know what I literally cannot wait to do it again, because every moment this year was a precious moment. Now with that said I am excited about this summer, going on vacation, laying around the house and by the pool, but I can't stop thinking about what I am going to change next year. This year was such a learning experience and I have things I am going to change and I am trying to organize my thoughts and ideas.

I also am changing classrooms this year. It took me three days to haul my classroom contents across campus, but it is all in my new room in the actual first grade wing. I am pumped to get my room organized and set up for next year. When I got my room assignments I was a bit upset, but now I am for sure God was looking out for me. I was acting childish (as we adults sometimes do...admit it) when I did not get placed next to the people I wanted, but in due time He revealed why He place me where He placed me. He knows me better than I know myself, and I need to learn to trust Him more. I was placed next to two teachers that I really do not know very well because they do everything together. I spent all last year on the other side of campus and was pretty much forgotten about. My own mentor only stepped foot in my classroom once. With that said I was worried I would not be included and my goal this year was to work closely with a seasoned teacher so I can learn from them. I was worried these two teachers would do there own thing and I would be left hanging yet again. I was wrong, because they have been more than awesome emailing not only me but my cousin-in-law Stephanie, who is across the hall. Now Stephanie and I have been driving a hour each way to a training in Lake Butler, FL this past week and the one coming up...I know my summer has not really started. The training is called SUMS, Students Understanding Math and Science, and it is a fabulous hands on curriculum. I plan on implementing it in my classroom next year, and guess who is a trainer for the program and uses it in their classroom...you bet the two teacher we have been placed by. Now was God telling me to trust Him or what...I believe so!

P.S. Adam and I started our first sweat equity project, we are redoing the office...more to come!

*LRW*