182 Day Journey
Tomorrow marks the start of a new journey for many, myself included.
The middle school where I work at has a 7th grade incoming student
orientation. We like to bring the 7th graders in a day early to get
their bearings about them. They go through their classes where they are
introduced to the new and exciting things that MIDDLE SCHOOL has to offer. It’s
like a day of mini school. We do this to in order to prepare them somewhat
before they are fed to the wolves on Monday (our hearts are in the right spot).
The 8th graders, that were once your sweet innocent 7th
graders, become a whole different cocky animal. With their hungry eyes, they
are ready to eat the new kids alive! Let us all take a moment and pray for
these poor 7th graders because we knew how awful, awkward, and
downright uncomfortable it was in middle school.
Now I say it marks a new journey for myself because this
year I will be getting back to my roots, science. Last year I taught CTE
(career and technical education or ‘home-ec’ basically) ha… I was fortunate
enough to bestow upon those young impressionable minds the amazing world of
childcare, culinary arts, and sewing/textiles. For those of you who know me
just laughed a little in their head because they know: A) I have no childcare
experience. B) Ramen Noodle doesn’t count as being able to cook. C) I didn’t
even know sewing machines still existed. If you’re wondering how I survived I
will tell you. I learned more from the kids than they did me. Did I have fun
with them though? YES! I saw all 400 (okay maybe not that many but pretty
close) 7th graders last year. Some of them which stole my heart!
I love science and all the facts, theories, and unknowns it
has to offer. I can’t wait to teach it this year. I will be teaching 3 sections
of C & A science along with my other classes. It’s a class for kids who want to reach beyond what they
know and become self-directed learners. I’m excited, anxious, nervous, and a
whole other ball of emotions I can't describe. As a teacher you worry that you’re going to fail
or that they won’t learn anything from you, but if I learned anything from last
year, if you show them that you really care about them… they will do anything
for you. I don’t think I could ever leave 7th grade because they are
immature, awkward, adolescents who are looking to find their “thing” and that is my favorite thing about them. Besides, if I'm being honest, I just described myself in a nutshell!
I will be involving myself in several things this year as
well. Without being able to coach up here, I have found I do have extra time. I’ve
decided it’s time to really delve in and be a part of something awesome (more to come on those adventures later).
I’m
writing this post basically to send a shout-out to all my fellow Americans out
there or teachers who are about to start their journey this year. Hope you all
have a fantastic, exhilarating, low stressed (year right..) year. I'm so excited to see what crazy stories this year will have to offer, but I first must say how much I will miss my sweet baby Lukers. He will not know what to do with himself sitting in the house all day. He was spoiled with his 2-a-days and long mountain hikes.
I will leave you with this thought. “I make terrible science
puns….but only periodically”.
Giving me "the look" ***PLAY WITH ME
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