A little introduction...

I decided to separate my teaching stuff from my "personal" blog.

I am a 2nd year teacher. I have been in my school for 3 years. My first year I completed my student teaching internship. In May of that year, I was hired as a first grade teacher. I completed my student teaching internship in the classroom that I have now.

I teach in an urban school district. I have 17 wonderful scholars this year.

Last year, my first year, was the worst year of my life. I only exaggerate slightly when I say I cried my ENTIRE first semester of teaching. I definitely did not have tough skin to handle what was thrown at me.

I had a really good student teaching experience and worked with a fantastic cooperating/mentor teacher. I inherited her classroom as she moved to Special Education.

I definitely entered my first year very excited and ready to go. Unfortunately, I did not prepare enough. I got beat up! I have no idea how I made it through the year. I look back on it as a complete failure. Yes, I learned a lot, but I hated the entire year. I dreaded going every day. I had quite a few kids who were more of a challenge that I could handle.

If it wasn't for my mentors I wouldn't have made it. They held me up when I started to fall. They gave me strategies that worked and gave me loads of encouragement.

I was so thankful to make it through that year.

This year has been a 180 of last year. For that, I am extremely thankful. I have been able to improve my teaching strategies while already having a handle on the management piece. I have a great team to work with this year.

I love First grade.

I hope that this blog will be a documentation of my teaching journey...hopefully full of laughter, learning and love.