The End Is Near

My first class is almost history; I am sad and excited at the same time. I am sad to see my students leave and excited to finally have a full time teaching position for the new school year. Last Thursday, my class had their closing ceremony and it was a big hit. I am still smiling at how much fun my students and their parents had.

I was surprised by a parent with the most amazing card and words of encouragement. Its moments like that that let me know I am making a difference. I am holding back tears, as I think about how much my students have grown and how much I have grown. When God puts you in difficult situations, it is only to shape you into the person that he wants you to be.

 

 

We did our own rendition of this for the parents! Talk about a hilarious time!

I can’t thank this parent enough because she has been the best! She was my Parent of the Year and I will truly miss her. I’m getting a little emotional! Before I became a teacher, I was never this emotional. This job is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting at times but I LOVE IT!!!

It’s Sunday and I missed Church to give my sister a ride to work. I have done my laundry, shucked some corn, washed my car, went shopping, applied to my dream job for the Summer, and watched Mulan! The amazingness of this day can only get better! I love Torrid and Mulan, OMG!!!!!

Until the next time that life has checked me,
-T

Enjoying the Lemons of Life

Hi. 
I have so much to share with you.
Let’s get started:)

When you heard from me last, I revealed that I was overstaffed here in the Louisville Public School System. Meaning that for the following year, I was not guaranteed a job in the Early Childhood department. I stayed positive and didn’t let this news deter me from finishing this year strong and enjoying what I love to do. Staying positive in any situation does a world of good because....... I now have a new position for the upcoming school year. (Praise Break)

About two weeks after my blog post, I got a call from a school on the mandatory transfer list that I compiled. This first school was Maupin Elementary, a great school by the way. They called Tuesday and gave me an interview for Wednesday. I went to the interview and I was myself! I rocked that interview; I just knew I did because I had that feeling! That feeling that makes you smile when you walk, add a little pep to it, and say, "You go girl!" to yourself. I left the interview and was on my way to my current school and my pants split! LOL! They literally ripped apart and I still have no idea why because I have lost about 30 pounds! After panicking for 10 seconds, I laughed in my car for a good ten minutes. Luckily my grandmother lives a few blocks away from Maupin, so I had enough time to run there and get a change of pants. By the way my granny is smaller than me and I fit into a pair of her pants! Go me! (I would like to take this time, to encourage you to put a diva bag in your trunk! A diva bag contains an extra set of clothes, jewelry, and toiletries. Just in case you happen to split your pants, lol.)

Anywhoo, fast forward! At around 1pm that same day, JCPS called my classroom and told me that I was recommended for hire to teach Kindergarten at Maupin Elementary for the 2013-2014 school year. Um, Yes, I accept!!!! God is so good and I can’t even explain what he will do for you, when you give him all of your trust because that is exactly what I did and look at what he did for me. (Praise Break #2) To go in and get a position on my first interview just lets me know how much I have grown! I can’t thank God enough for what he has done because many of my friends have not gotten hired yet. This is still something very scary for so many people, yet I have been blessed with a light at the end of the tunnel. 

I am a living testimony that when you trust in God and you leave him in charge of guiding you to your destiny, only good things will come out of it. 
                                                         
Until the next time that life has checked me,
-T
P.S. I will be back tomorrow to share some more of my recent experiences as a Pre-Kinder Teacher. I have posted my last two bulletin boards for your viewing pleasure:)

Overstaffed In My First Year!!

Hey loves! Just checking in and hopefully it won’t be long before I can purchase my new computer! Teaching is going well; I am getting a lot of compliments from parents, my teaching team, and my principal. I absolutely love my classroom and doing what I love but there is always something! I found out right before spring break, that I am being overstaffed! Aw, life just loves throwing curve balls! JCPS is going through overstaffing because they don’t know if they will get the funding that they need for next year. There are around 100 people being overstaffed which are very scary. When I was told about this, I was assured that I would still have a job next year BUT.... Yesterday, I found out that this may not be the case:( Instead of applying for a new position I have to wait to see if JCPS gets the funding and if any of the schools, that I put on my transfer list, have openings! This makes this whole scenario even scarier because I won’t know anything until July or possibly August! That means going through my whole summer on pins and needles AGAIN! 

The only things that are reassuring me are my faith in God and the fact that my degree allows me to teach up to fifth grade. I also have the assurance that JCPS has a hiring freeze and they won’t hire anyone until all of the Overstaffing situations have been handled. So if JCPS doesn’t get the funding, I can flow into an elementary classroom. I am going to put on a brave front but I will be honest and say that I am both angry and upset. The journey to my own classroom was a rocky one and here comes part two! I am keeping my faith, praying, and utilizing my support system. Life is not fair but SO WHAT! I will continue to enjoy my students and to help them grow. This is only a test :) Through it all, I will continue to smile and be thankful, there is no reason that I should not be!

Until the next time that life has checked me!

-T

Life is Good

Just checking in with a quick update from The Awkward Teacher! I am still saving for a computer and  really contemplating purchasing a Mac Book. I have never had one, so I am a little on the fence about purchasing it because it is very expensive. If you have any suggestions or comments about Macs to help sway my decision, please post them:)

School is going good; I love it when I see my students learning and their little minds working. Behavior is still an issue but I am still trying different things to help with this. I completed my first home visit Friday and it was a really good experience. It was nice to feel appreciated as well. A lot of people don’t understand all the work that teachers do, this is a physical and mental job, and there are no breaks! I'm attached to these kids and I care and love them  like they are my own, so to hear that some parents appreciate what I am doing feels really good!

Funny story, that I just have to share, take a look below:
Me: Why was breaking Baby Bears chair a bad thing for Goldilocks to do?
Boy: Pauses....because.. because she wasn’t going to pay to fix the chair,

Sweet and cute moments like this make me forget any trying moments that we have had since January. I now have a bus monitor, which has helped greatly. My assistant and bus monitor are too awesome for words, just major blessings

Lastly, I have finally started my new health journey and have currently lost 11 pounds. It’s hard but I am determined. I try to wake up and get my workouts over with before work and  it takes a lot of determination, lol. I also treated myself to blonde highlights and a new pair of tennis shoes. Life is good; I’m flowing with the ups and the downs.

3 Positives a Day
1) Spring Break is in 1 week!
2) I started a class newsletter for parents and one of my fellow Pre-K teachers loved it so much, she asked to use the template! Go me!
3) My teaching team  is complete and I think we are going to get these kids in shape. We are the Dream Team and you better believe it:)

Until the next time that life has checked me,
-T

Be Patient With Me:)

AdI

In honor of Dr.Seuss's birthday, enjoy my favorite quote from him!

Its been a while but hello:) Sorry for my hiatus but I no longer have a computer, it died and I am saving money to replace it. In the mean time, I am doing a lot from my phone until then. Just a quick update because its a little weird doing this from a phone. Sometimes I hate technology but where would I be without it? School is going well and I am enjoying myself. I still can't believe that I have my own classroom. I stop and marvel at how my life has changed at the most random times. I ask God, why he is so good to me but I am always grateful for his love. I am very blessed to be able to work in the school system. There are so many people who are not doing a job that they studied to do but I am. GOD IS GOOD!

Last night I watched some of a movie called, The Hive. It was good, just a little long. One of the teachers in the movie was very judgemental and it was making me so mad. I have a hard time realizing that some people can't deal with obstacles as well as me. Its ok to be upset and frazzled but it is not ok to stay that way. Have your moment and then have your moment where you plan how you are going to make a change. Repeat if needed. Life is too short to stay down for too long:)

Anywhoo, I go back to work tomorrow and I am ready. We just completed a winter break and I enjoyed myself but I do miss my kiddos. Have a great week you guys!
Until the next time life has checked me.

-T