This was almost my "first" year teaching but not quite as I stated in an earlier post I used to teach in Hawai'i ages ago, but this was my first year in 4th grade! I'm teaching at the same elementary school that my daughters went to and where I spent most of my days subbing. It has always felt like home for me, I've always felt like part of the staff there {I call them my homies}. I must say I loved my "almost" first year back in the classroom! I learned so much as teaching has changed a lot since the last time I was a second grade teacher at Kapa'a Elementary, I came out of the whole language era and technology in the classroom was just showing its face. I can remember having my first school email address and I was so excited. Boy oh boy has technology changed the scope of teaching these days. That was probably the biggest learning experience for me this year and had quite the rocky start to my "first" year back teaching.
{Val and Kelly, my Kindergarten team helping me drill corkboard for the bulletin boards}
When I interviewed last May I was hired as a Kindergarten Teacher. I spent every waking moment prepping, shopping, and creating my classroom for my Kindergarten students, this was no joke. From the moment the custodian was on campus I was there with my homegirls. I was going to hit the ground running being well prepared and set up, as I know you have to be very organized when you teach 5 year olds. Then 3 days before school started my principal called me in her office and gave me the shocking news that the numbers were not able to support a fourth Kinder class, I was completely heartbroken. But my homies took the rein and helped me move to my new home. I realized I had a job and was thankful for that. Slowly I would rebuild my classroom and wrap my head around this new grade level that I have never taught before! I was going to take lemons and make lemonade out of my situation.
{Part of the crew who helped me get situated into my new home}
My students were so awesome this year and made the transition to upper elementary so much easier. I learned so much and realize I need to delegate more often that they can handle more responsibility than 5 year olds. I'll share more in future posts of how I'm going to do that.
Not only were my students awesome, but my 4th grade team was the best any "new" or old teacher could ask for! The thing is I already had a great admiration for them before I got moved. My daughters had them for their teachers in 2nd, 4th, and 5th. (Mrs. Doty was in second when my oldest was and then had her again in 4th) I am extremely fortunate that I got to work with them and will continue to do so next year. Yeah me!
{my new tribe. Mrs. Doty to my right and Mrs. Liew to my left}
We consider ourselves the Three Musketeers, All for One and One for all. If one of us goes down, we all go down. As Halloween approached it was a no brainer what would be our costumes. We won the first prize of the staff Halloween. We work so well together but are also very different, we compliment each other. I know it is going to be another awesome year!
I'll continue to recap in future post how my "first" year went on my new chapter of my life.