The last Chapter of the school season...finally here for your reading pleasure.

Well, I couldn't very well keep you all in suspense about my decision regarding teaching next year, now could I?  If you just joined my blog today, here's a little update about Ms. F's current status:  so, several therapy sessions later as I'm being treated for PTSD due to 12 years of being a school teacher...and making it a whole year through teaching at a Charter school (chuckle....that and dealing with my big fat Greek family for the last 40 years), I have managed to make heads and tails of a lot of my emotions, particularly matters of the heart when it comes to my career.  In the back of my mind, I still have this crazy idea I might actually write a book someday about my funny experiences in life.  Hey, why not?  I might actually get a real paycheck someday....LOL...but let's move on to the final chapter, and of course, the final decision, shall we?

So, I decided to go back to my old school next year and indulge in the luxury of having an actual kindergarten classroom back, one with full amenities such as a kitchen, bathroom, tile & carpet (ah, the things we take for granted sometimes), some actual furniture in the room other than the Goodwill shelves I've now acquired in my garage that became my best friends this past year.  Bottom line:  I learned a lot by working at a Charter school.  I am by far, a much better, more aware, more effective, more resourceful teacher.  I have learned to be a problem solver.  I have learned to trust in the children and their interests, strengths and ideas.  I have let go of a lot of the "control" I once thought was necessary to be a good teacher.  I have really taken "differentiating curriculum" to a whole new level and it will be rather interesting to go back to a traditional kindergarten class next year and apply all of this.  Hell, I'm just excited to be able to have a teacher's lounge to go eat lunch in every day!

I couldn't help but feel guilty when this decision became official for me about a month and half ago.  Of course, my student's parents know and they are panicked about who will fill my shoes next year when I'm sipping my coffee back in my old kindergarten classroom as I wait for the morning bell to ring.  You know, I miss bells.  I miss school buses.  I miss center time.  I miss cooking activities.  I miss having cupcakes on birthdays.  Teaching at the Charter school this past year opened my eyes a lot.  I think I can still teach as if I'm teaching gifted children like the ones I had the pleasure of serving this year, after all, they are all gifted in so many ways if you really think about it.  But I will never let go of my Early Childhood beliefs and now I've mastered how to be able to challenge these young ones while still keeping it developmentally appropriate.  That is quite a task, let me tell you!  I have so much testing to still do over the next few weeks - honestly there's no time left to teach, but yesterday, as I felt swallowed whole with deadlines and tasks, by God, I brought popsicles to school and we had a little party.  It was a celebration of love and relief at the same time.  My job is not an easy one.  But in the long run, someone's got to to do it, right?  Have a great summer everyone!  Stay tuned for my next blog in August.....as we start the 2011/2012 school year.