Work? gooood (pt 1)

Wow I realize that I haven't let you guys know how things have been since getting hired as a 4th grade teacher @ Creedmoor Elementary.  Quite simply, it's been amazing. 

I really thank God for being totally in control.  I was sad at being laid off last year (my first time ever) after surviving my first year teaching, but I think He knew what was happening there and wanted something else for me.  At this school, two of my co-workers from Camino Real Elementary actually called and texted me to apply for the opening the day it opened up.  It was really humbling and such an encouragement that so many people were looking out for me. 

The reason they opened up a teaching position so late was because they had an overwhelming flood of 4th graders enroll, and I ended up getting a group of kids from each of the 5 other teachers (yes, a total of six 4th grade teachers!).  I kinda felt bad for the bilingual teachers, cuz I ended up poaching some of their smarter kids, but hey, I wasn't in charge of it!  =p

My biggest fear in starting in the middle of the year was knowing where all the kids were at academically, and trust me, it was freakin crazy trying to figure that stuff out.  Add on top of that trying to get to know kids and have them trust me after they've already bonded w/ their old teacher.  I had 2 girls tell me that I was their first male teacher and they wanted to go back to their old teacher.  haha! 

2nd grade kids singing Feliz Navidad for our class

Despite those misgivings and trying to get used to a new school culture/ new grade level/ get my class set up as quickly as possible, it was really cool because of all the support and love I received from other teachers in the school.  There's this special camaraderie among those in the teaching profession, I think experiencing the same intense stress and weight, you naturally pull for your fellow teachers and there was a steady flow of people visiting and offering help.

All in all, the feel of the school just felt a lot more free and inviting to me.  Maybe it was a bit of self confidence because I knew a basic flow of how a year goes, but I felt very hopeful.