Sunday, August 29, 2010

A new school year! A new opportunity!

We have been back at school for 8 days. Eight whole days. Already I feel so much better than I did at this point last year. Last year, I was making the transition from coach to teacher. I was putting ideology into practice. I was coming off of my mountain.

This year, I am so much more in control. I can see things falling into place like never before. It is like I've embedded all the things I've learned and I've made them my own.

I can not believe the new place that I'm in. I actually planned lessons this weekend. :)

This week, we are going to use "The Necklace" to cover some basic English I standards that will later be reinforced by Bronx Masquerade. I am planning with my fellow English I teachers and we are piggy-backing better than ever before.

Needless to say, I am excited. I have great kids. I have great partner teachers. I have a great schedule. I work in a great school. I still have a job.

And every day, I get to wake up and teach children. I love them more than they could ever imagine. I know that I am molding and shaping them into something new everyday. They will look back on their high school experience and remember me. Their ninth grade English teacher.

People ask me how I can get up so early in the mornings. They ask me how I deal with 14-year-olds. They ask me how I work in education. The rewards are intrinsic. And they are never-ending. I'm so proud to say that I am a teacher. With all that that entails.