Decisions, Decisions

When I was completing my student teaching four years ago (wow!) I just knew the only place for me was junior high. I loved everything about teaching 7th grade. We had pep rallies and dances and the cafeteria even had milk shakes!

I loved teaching language arts all day and being able to teach it well instead of spreading myself so thin over seven different subjects. And let's be honest, having a 78-minute prep period wasn't too shabby either! The best part though had to be the kids. Junior High kids are so much fun. They think you're pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread and really, who needs "The Hills" when you have junior high drama to listen every day?

When I finished my student teaching mid-year, there was one, single, solitary opening in the entire district and it was a 5th grade position. Elementary?! I wanted to teach in Chandler more than anything else though so I took it. I knew how lucky I was to be hired in Chandler at all! As it turned out, my principal was AMAZING and I was teaching at the nicest little neighborhood school only 3 miles from my house! The next year, my principal moved me to 6th grade since she knew my heart was really with the older kids and I got to loop up with most of my 5th grade class which I loved. That class that I had for almost 2 years is still my favorite of all time (and don't be mistaken, they were probably my naughtiest!) On their last day of 6th grade, I cried like a baby. Some of the kids cried like babies. And their parents cried like babies. They really felt like my very own family and, without fail, at least one kid from that class comes to see me every week.

Now that this year is almost at the halfway point, I'm starting to think about next year and what I want to do and where I want to be. I have really taken to to 5th and 6th graders but part of me still wants to explore junior high options. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and yesterday (again as I was cleaning my room, I should probably do that more often!) I found a box of stuff the 7th graders gave me on my last day of student teaching. The girl that wrote this poem was so hilarious! She was like my mini me! She is now a cheerleader and Student Council rep at Chandler High so I get to see her every once in a while at Student Council events. On the back of the poem, she had written, "Let's go shopping! Call me" and her phone number. I told you she was my mini me.

I think for now, I'll just sit tight and see where this year takes me.