Viva! Las Vegas

I have my first teaching position lined up.

.

I never would have imagined I would move to Las Vegas, but I am surprisingly excited.  My oldest, who has  loved living in Casper and made some amazing friends, is the one researching all that Las Vegas has to offer. He has even picked his high school.

My middle child is thrilled to be going to the home place of his hero.

And my youngest is just excited.

Me?  I am headed to 

 

I am SO excited!  I will be teaching in an accelerated 1st grade classroom,working with an amazing principal and great teachers.  

Okay, and I am also excited about all the awesome things Las Vegas has to offer.

 

 

 

       

And who can forget the fact that I am only 4 hours away from Disney Land and the beach and Universal Studios and many of California's wonders.  AND, I will still be relatively close to family.  We look forward to visits from family and friends and hope that you know that we have an open door policy and LOVE visitors!  See you there!!!

Substitute Teacher

I am finally in the system, I am officially a substitute teacher.  My first job was at a school within walking distance of my home.  If was for half day, which I figured would help ease me into substituting.  I checked my messages during first recess and discovered the school my children go to needed a substitute for the afternoon.  How could I not take it?!!  I called the school to make sure the time would work and I was set to go.  It is kinda different being paid to teach now...not that I have seen a paycheck and when I do, it will not be terribly large BUT I AM getting paid, so YEA!  Substitute teaching is harder than having a steady classroom to go to.  I do not know the students and they do not know me.  Students often act a bit rowdier and the teacher has to focus additional time on behavior.  BUT, it is a step closer to my goal and I will take it!

Today I Am Teaching at the College

 

For some reason, I would rather be teaching children than future teachers.  Still, I am excited for the workshop I will be co-facilitating at the college this week.  We will spend a total of six hours playing and exploring the world through touch and texture and tracks.  Seriously, FUN!  The hard part is getting it all ready.  Luckily, that step is done and now I get to the easy part, teach it.  And hopefully one day soon, I can bring these activities into an elementary classroom.  

Comments

Twice, I have had someone ask me if I had read their comment.  Unfortunately, the comments did not post and I have not been able to find and/or read them.   I will reconfigure my posting options so that the problem can hopefully be fixed. 

In other news, I was able to return to the school I student taught to watch their 5th grade band and orchestra concert.  It was AMAZING!  They all did a fantastic job.  It was also great to see Mr. B's class again.  They  always make me feel good.  Love that class!

And as soon as I receive a job offer, I will let you know.  

So ends a chapter.

I said, "Goodbye," today.  Shed a few tears, gave a lot of hugs.  The hardest part came the next day...the day I realized that this chapter of my life was now over.  I have been consumed with schooling for the past year and a half.  I felt constant stress, always having homework and assignments to be worked on.  Now....it is over.  I have been looking forward to this day for a long time, but let's be honest, I was only fooling myself.  I loved going to school each day and knowing I had somewhere I needed to be.  I loved building relationships with the students and triumphed in their successes.  Now uncertainty awaits me of what my next chapter will be.  Where will it take place?  How long will it last?  Will I be successful?  Exciting and scary at the same time.  

So close!

I had my third interview with a school today.  They said they would call me by the end of the week to let me know....They are opening two new campuses.  One is here:

.

and the other is here:

Whew!  Very exciting.

Student Teaching

Wow!  This is my last week of Student Teaching.  At this point, I do not consider myself a master teacher; I still have too much too learn. But I will say, I have learned an amazingly large amount in my short time at my student residency.  It is difficult knowing that I will not see many of these students again.  I have been applying for teaching positions all over the country.  Chances of me staying in Casper are very small. I wish these students knew how much I cared about them.  I want them to enjoy learning and be lifelong learners.  I want them to graduate high school and go to college.  I want them to get the jobs of their dreams and live happy lives.  I want them to know that I will be cheering them the whole way, even if they can't hear me.  I want them to know that I see in them their amazing potential and I look forward to hearing about their lives...even if it's only through email.  Thank you so much for giving me this unbelievably amazing experience!