Teachers: what are you excited about for the upcoming year?

[zoebartlett]

i know it''s early to start thinking about the new school year but I am. I''m beginning a new job in a new school/state (same grade level though) and I''m beginning to get excited. I''m anxious to begin meeting other people and learn the differences between teaching in the south and teaching in the north (where I''m originally from). As for curriculum, I''m also gathering ideas for the new units I''ll need to teach.

What are you looking forward to?

 

[swimmer]

Zoe, you are too cute. I''m looking forward to...the month of August! The only teenagers I have to chat with are bringing me food in a restaurant till Sept.

Only sort of kidding! Are you getting a mentor? Is there an orientation for new teachers so you can case the joint and meet the cool kids? How exciting for you! I''m going back after a year leave and good news, will be teaching some Modern World History, Psychology, and Facing History and Ourselves, not so good, also teaching Economics and possibly US History I. Knowing what every single dead white guy from 1780 on thought and felt or why they committed genocide seems to be my job description. I am however psyched to be in the same classroom all day, moving is a pita, I can hope that when the prisoners paint the walls this summer they create a window. Whoever built windowless schools in the 70s really should be tortured by a gang of ADHD teens. Its only fair...

Enjoy your vacay Zoe, you know I will be thinking of you on snowy morning drives in...

 

[KimberlyH]

I''m looking forward to what the year will hold. Will I get to go back to my part time position? Will I be substituting? At this point who knows, I won''t find out until after school starts. I''m happy doing either, but I would really love to go back to the p/t position as it is a better opportunity for me to improve myself careerwise. I''ve been working summer school in special education, so there hasn''t been much of a break, but I still look forward to the school year beginning.

 

[cinnamongurl]

I am looking forward to being a first grade teacher again!! I taught first grade my first two years of teaching, then was moved to kindergarten last year. It was really hard at first, but then I grew to love it. But, there''s just something about first grade that I love, so I''m excited to go back.

I''m also excited for my yearly pay increase + increase based on graduate credits earned thus far (next step on the pay scale!!). I will also (fingers crossed) receive tenure this year!

With taking 3 summer graduate courses this summer, and getting engaged/starting the wedding planning, I haven''t started thinking of the actual "teaching" aspect of the upcoming year...that may take a little longer...

 

[pennquaker09]

I''m still gong to stay at home, but I am sending out a lot of dust for you all to have and awesome school year.

 

[zoebartlett]

Swimmer -- hahaha! I know, I know, it''s too early to be thinking of school now. I can''t help it though. If I was returning to my former school, it would be the farthest thing from my mind right now. This is the first time I''ll start school so much earlier than I have in the past. At my former school, teachers only had two days of workshops and meetings before the kdis came. And this is usually in the last week of August. In my new state/district, we''re required to show up on the 18th and work a full week. Kids come on the 24th to meet their teachers during open house and then school begins on the 25th. It''s just so different from what I''m used to. My mind''s already buzzing with what I have to do already.

Anyway, I''m not getting a mentor but apparently every grade level has a head teacher. There are two or three other teachers at my grade level who are either new to the district or new to the school. I think I''m the only one who came from so far away. The head teacher will act as a mentor to all of us I''m sure.

It sounds like you''ll have a FULL load this semester! Gang of ADHD teens -- hahahaha! I can only imagine what a windowless classroom must be like. Depressing for sure.


Kim -- good luck finding a position. I kow how much you loved your part time position last year, so I hope that works out for you.

Cinnamongurl -- Isn''t teaching first grade fun?! I loved it. I''ve taught reading to kids in K-4, and I''ve taught first and second grade (2nd most recently). There''s something to teaching the little ones everything from the very beginning that''s very satisfying. Congrats on earning tenure!

Thanks Penn! Have a wonderful year with the twins. They must be growing up so fast!

 

[Sabine]

Not having to go back ever again! haha, I''m in an evil mood

, but so excited to not be teaching at that school anymore!