It has been almost a year since I have updated my edu blog. What can I say? It has been my first year teaching and I have been trying so hard to do all of the things that I've set out to do my whole life since getting hired.
I have been lucky to have a dreamy first semester; one prep (AKA I only teach one type of class AKA PRAISE THE HEAVENS HALLELUJAH), an experienced/wonderful co-teacher, a small learning community with wonderful resources for students who have experienced trauma and/or difficulty in the education system thus far, a close group of colleagues, and small class sizes. As the days went by in September, I began to get scared and confused since I was hoping more and more students would show up, but alas, more left instead.
I began to realize that this lack of students would lead to some unfortunate decisions in my future at this dreamy job. I began to work extra hard and effectively to prepare for the likely cuts that were going to happen at the end of the year...however there was a different surprise in store...
We had to lay off teachers in the middle of year. The month of January was rough for myself and most of my colleagues as we were confused, stressed for the imminent semester as well as our own well-being. This is where this blog could get really negative, bitter and hopeless...but I'll continue on with the good news- I was not laid off but am switching positions instead.
I start my new position this Monday. It is in a new building. I will probably have 150 new students. I will have all new colleagues. I will have new bosses. I will have a new curriculum.. I will have new printers. Do I know a lot? Nope! My stuff is in my car since I do not have a room yet! Will I be completely emotionally graceful with this change...heck no.
In response to the stress I am feeling I am going to write this blog again and center it on what works and does not work in terms of this different experience I will be having: entering another's classroom in the middle of the year on two weeks notice as a first year teacher.
I recognize that there are so many other teachers facing challenging experiences similar to and DEFINITELY more severe than this. I am hoping to use my own, however, to really evaluate myself as an effective and transformative educator in the midst of challenge and make this unexpected event a positive one. Hence the :) in my title.
