Ready Or Not...

HERE I COME...

If you know me, (which I hope you do since you are reading this blog post, ha), then you know that since before I can remember I have always wanted to be a teacher. When I graduated from college last year, I really thought I'd be heading straight into teaching, but as much as I wanted to, I can honestly say, NOW not earlier, I am glad I had a year off.

Within this past year, I was able to understand my passion a lot more, and see my life without what I've always wanted, within the profession world. When something is so close, but out of reach, it makes you treasure it that much more. You fall in love with the reasons it was right for you in the first place all over again. I do not think during my training and education that I ever took for granted teaching and what it did for me when I was standing in front of students, but I know I got relaxed and "comfortable" in my shoes. This past year showed me that I am in the profession I am suppose to be because those few days I stood in front of a classroom as a substitute teacher, it fit. When something is missing, you realize how much you love it and need it, not to feel complete in who you are, but just to feel complete in what you do.
God really grew me and taught me that He's got it all in control, whether I choose to believe that or not, He's already got it planned. Hmm.... Me... A worrier? Haha, no, of course not me!! YEAH!! Say it with me, "Matthew 6, Matthew 6!" This year taught me that patience is truly a virtue, and that God will bless those who follow after Him and wait on His perfect will.

Now, did I realize all of this as I sat in Minnesota and cried because I "just wanted my own classroom and to be settled?" Did I realize all of this as I watched Teach Georgia and other school websites continue to show "no available jobs?"
NO!!!!.. These are definitely those A-HA moments that help you get out of the valley and onto the mountaintop!!

I interviewed in two schools, I worried, I stressed, I didn't sleep....

About the 3rd or 4th night of late night tossing...

I told myself what I told you above...And I slept, soundly.

I got a call from Centennial Arts Academy the VERY next day offering me a teaching position...

God Provides.

From the day I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with Thomas Louis, I knew I wanted to do "Odom's Ocean" in my classroom. After all the craze with the "Ocean's Eleven etc" movies, I thought it would be cute to add whatever grade level I was to the end of that. My mom saved ALL her stuff she used when she use to be a Sunday School teacher/VBS teacher.

One summer, she did a full blown underwater theme in VBS....
Now it is in Odom's Ocean's Five! I will be one of the 5th grade science and social studies teachers, and I will also teach English to my homeroom classroom. We have two teams of three for our upcoming fifth graders this year, and I am so excited to be one of the teachers!! I get so excited sometimes I forget what I am doing. Just ask my mom when she walked in the first day to help me...I was just standing there looking at all I had to do, thinking "oh geez, this is all mine, I've gotta make it look like a classroom, but MAN OH MAN AM I GLAD TO BE HERE!!"

I really took a spin on the "ocean" theme and in two full days and a couple other piddle days, my mom and I created my very first classroom...
one I've dreamed and waited on for as long as I can remember...

In the hallway, you will find this. The poster in the center is the poem about the man walking on the beach and him seeing a young man tossing starfish back into the ocean. The man asks what he is doing, because he can not help all of them. The young man responds with "but I made a difference to that one." I have starfish with all my student's names to put up. I am waiting to make sure my class roster doesn't change at all.

Looking at the front of the room...

Looking to the left of the room...

Looking to the right...

My science and social studies corner...
The log cabin was a project I completed with my dad,
when I was fifth grade!!

My reading section...
(still looking for two SMALL durable blue beach chairs..)

Science Bulletin Board...

Social Studies Bulletin Board...

My Misc. Bulletin Board...
(will change throughout the year with fun stuff)

Behavior Area...
We are using Whole Brain Teaching in 5th grade,
it's pretty cool! You should check it out!

My area behind my desk...

My very own teacher desk... :)

View when you walk in the door...

Misc bookshelf by door...

Back wall...

Task Wall,
with rules, agenda, schedule, and book bag racks...

I've still got a few more posters, my character words, and some organizing in the desk to finish up, but I am super pumped that I've got the BIG decorating done before new teacher stuff starts! Now that the beautification is done in the room...It's time to get down to business on planning those lessons!! :)

Keep me in your prayers as I start next Thursday with two days of new teacher orientation, then pre-planning, followed by the first day of school on August 9th! I am SUPER excited, but as it nears, the butterflies we all got the first day of new things start fluttering! Can't wait to read "First Day Jitters" even to my "old 5th graders!!"

Next task...
Thomas' Office.

Thanks for checking in! Love y'all!