Each year is a new start

So when I found out at the end of the school year that I would be teaching 2 self-contained subject areas this coming school year...I freaked out a bit, but not out of joy.   I have taught in an inclusion class setting for the past four years, and otherwise hadn't had my own classroom other than a content support/learning center period.  My first teaching placement was self-contained because that was the format of the  program, and I liked it, but had to teach every subject area...taxing!  A few years later I was offered my first inclusion postion, co-teaching Earth Science...I took the challenge head on, & fell in love with this curriculum that I once found so difficult as a student.  It was a struggle to learn all of the curriculum & creating lessons/materials, but I was honest w/my students that Science had been a challenge for me...but I made it work and figured it out..my students saw me as human.  The following year, I was co-teaching Living Environment and felt that this was my niche.  I felt so comfortable with the topics, could explain them in understandable terms for my students & make real world connections in the most interesting & engaging ways...further falling in love with science.  Last year, I began co-teaching 8th grade math & science.....whoah....MATH!?!?!?! yeah that is was I thought!  If Science was a challenge for me in middle school, Math was my Achilles Heel!!   I paid attention in school, I took notes, I did my homework, I participated....I just couldn't make the connection...I would blank on tests.  I didn't fail, but math was exhausting.  Now I'm being charged to co-teach it!  As special educators, we have to be ready to go where we are needed, teach students with many different learning styles & levels, and help them to be successful regardless of the situation & content.  Being told I would be teaching math definitely took me out of my comfort level, but I loved the opportunity to re-learn & figure out the gaps I had when I was in school.  I feel my struggle growing up helped me create resources for my students, it allowed them to feel more comfortable approaching me for help & asking questions...I was straightforward from the start...it was tough for me, I understand it can be tough for you...we'll get through it =)

I soon became very confident with most of the math curriculum with the help of my wonderful co-teacher, Jeff Schoenfeld.  I also had an equally amazing co-teacher for Science, Paul Bennett...Man those guys rocked!  Talk about being supported as a special educator in the classroom!  I wasn't expected to just pass out papers, my ideas & suggestions weren't just brushed under the carpet like they had in the past...I got to teach!!! It was also nice having a partner to collaborate with and really take a look at the whole student.  Our results in our classes weren't too shabby either, all passed the required assessments & are moving on.    

So, when I was informed that I wouldn't be co-teaching this year, after it worked so well...I was bummed.  It's not that I wasn't excited to have my own classes, but I was worried about having to start from scratch again.  The subject areas are the same, but now I will be teaching 7th grade...a whole new curriculum, new assessments to prepare for...nothing in my arsenal to pull from really.  I'll admit I had a mini pity party.  

However, after a few days to think about the situation, and with the encouragement & support from my colleagues & friends, I began to embrace the idea of having my own classes again.

This Google Tools class has been my jumping off point of not only creating new lessons & researching new ways to engage my students, but also it has allowed me to starte creating lessons with technology being infused throughout, rather than a lesson that I added technology into after the fact (though there is absolutely nothing wrong with that).  I am excited about putting my ideas & tech skills to work with the new units that I'll be teaching.  I'm excited about howI plan to run my classroom, and the ways that I will get to interact with my new, smaller group of students.

Will it be a challenge??? YEAH! but I wouldn't have it any other way.