Better Late Than Never

Well, it's been a while since I last posted, but that's the life of a new teacher: ALWAYS busy. I absolutely love living in Garden City. Only complaints I have are how bad it smells sometimes. I have met 3 girls from Michigan who are new teachers at different schools. I am so glad I met them because they are the ones I spend most of my free time with. I am the only new teacher that is from Minnesota, but I like it that way! There is one teacher I met who works at an intermediate center who graduated from Bemidji State! Small world!

As far as teaching goes, I couldn't have chosen a better profession. I never thought I would love fourth graders so much! I only teach math so I see almost 70 kids a day! It's one way of keeping me on my toes! Some of my students thought that I had taught at another school before this, which made me feel good because they can't see the days where I struggle with teaching or classroom management. Sometimes I feel like all I want to do is pull out my hair at school, but then I get home and I think about the day, and I just smile. The kids are the reason I can wake up everyday and be excited to go to work. I have a great building and staff that I work with. They have made me feel included and welcomed. I never feel like the outsider. I joined the Relay for Life team at my school and I'm really excited to work with my school and the community for this great cause. I have a feeling I'm going to be a Kansas resident for a while and I'm totally ok with that.

I also took a second job at a frozen yogurt place. It is a lot of fun and a good way to put a little extra cash in my pocket. Plus, the free yogurt is a huge bonus! I found that I like to stay busy and this was one way to do it.

First Week In Garden

Well, I got all moved into my new apartment in Garden City. I can't wait to make this apartment my own and not have to worry about roommates anymore. Yikes, I'm officially a grown up. I spent five days with my mom and Kylie and they helped get everything in the apartment and settled. It was a good five days together, and then I remembered why I like living away from home. My house is pretty bare right now, but I've got plenty of time to fill it! But since Friday, I have had plenty of down time and have watched WAY too much One Tree Hill. Cable is on the waiting list of things that need to get done. My classroom, (yes, my own classroom!) is priority at the moment.

I went into the school today for the first time since touring it back in April. I forgot how comfortable I felt as I walked through the halls. I have a feeling that I am really going to fit in. I met my mentor last week. She is a third grade math teacher in the same building and our rooms are connected. Thank goodness! I would be lying if I said I didn't peek in there a time or two to get set-up ideas for my room. When I walked into my room, everything was piled in the middle of the room and there was no sense to be had. I didn't even know where to start. I just started to plug away and eventually it kinda came together. I swear, most of the materials and supplies from past teachers was older than I am. I tossed more than I kept. But by the end of the year, I'll have so much crap it will surprise me. I spent today cleaning and sorting with a little bit of organizing. Tomorrow is going to be more organizing and decorating. And of course, decorating is the best part! I put my desk and filing cabinets in their spots and the student desks are where I think they are going to be. But that all depends on the numbers. Don't worry, there will be pictures of my room! It's just too early and too messy to show the world yet.

I am getting excited. It's still a bit surreal that I am a 4th grade math teacher. Like, shouldn't I still be taking classes this fall or something?! I just hope that when I start the new teacher in-service, I meet some people that I get along with. There are 4 new teachers at my school alone. Multiply that by like 14 more schools and there should be somebody, right? So far, everyone has been super nice and welcoming and more than willing to help me with anything. I think I'll like it here.

Preparing for the Big Move!

Like anyone, I am procrastinating on packing for my move to Garden City, Kansas. I know, why am I moving to middle-of-nowhere Kansas. Well, I decided to take a teaching job teaching 4th grade math.   On Sunday my mom, sister and I will be making the 15 hour drive. Not all in one day, thank goodness. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. I'm not so nervous about the moving part. I'm extremely nervous about the teaching part. The idea of being in charge of 22 kids without any help scares the crap out of me. Everyone tells me that I'll be fine, and I pray to god that's true. The community that I am moving into has been super welcoming so far and I hope that's not an act. Who knows how long I'll end up staying in Kansas, but I have to get my first year of teaching over with somewhere, and I think this is a good place to do it.

The school district provides all new teachers with a mentor within the building. How awesome! Mine is a third grade teacher and she has proven helpful to me already in reaching out on Facebook for furniture for me! The district also has a social director who puts on different social events throughout the school year for new teachers so we can meet new people in an unfamiliar town. And, in every school I went to in the district, they have a room full of resources that all the teachers can check out and use. Which is awesome for new teachers with minimal materials. So far, it seems like a good fit.

I am going to use this blog to chronicle my life as a first-year teacher. Hopefully, I'll have some good stories to tell. But more importantly, I want to use this as a way to reflect on my week and to vent out things that went horribly wrong. If this blog bores you, I won't be upset if you stop reading but I hope it will give you insight to the life of a teacher and see things from the other side of the desk. And there will be laughs along the way. I can guarantee that with a group of 9 and 10 year olds! My next post will probably be after I am all moved in and start setting up my very own classroom!