Surprise!.......I'm Teaching

I knew I wanted to be a teacher starting in 7th grade, specifically in a parochial school classroom. Life happened.  I taught 4th grade for a year in a parochial school.  We moved, I subbed, and then taught middle school math in the public school system.  People may knock public education, but I learned a lot during my time in the trenches.  I really value everything I learned about teaching and education while teaching math in an urban middle school.

Like any teacher, some years were rougher than others.  When Linus was born, I took the rest of the year off and returned part-time.  The following fall I was 8 months pregnant and managed to teach about a month before throwing in the towel and taking a medical leave.  I didn't know at the time that that leave would eventually mean more than 5 years.  

By the time I left, I felt beaten and worn down.  I have loved my stay at home mom gig.  I dipped a toe back into teaching when Robin was one, and started subbing.  Last year I subbed and also taught a section of 6th grade math.  I loved it.  It felt so good to be teaching.  My take away from the experience is that every body should take a sabbatical at some point.

The universe continues to remind me that as John Lennon sang, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans."  I was so excited for the upcoming school year.  I was potentially going to get at least one day a week to myself.  After school drop-off, I might actually get to go work out.  I had no intention of taking a teaching job.  

Last week I mentioned to the principal of my children's school that I might be interested in some sort of benefited position.  He liked that idea.  Together we started to form a plan that would have me teaching math part time.  And then yesterday (Monday) everything changed.  Suddenly, I was not going to be teaching a little bit.  There was a need for a full time teacher in the middle school.  I did not hesitate.  I accepted a job teaching 6th grade math and science.

So here I am Tuesday.  School starts Thursday.  I was in meetings all day learning about teaching IB (our school is becoming International Baccalaureate).  I have never been so overwhelmed in my life.  There is so much to do.  As a planner, it is painful to not have everything perfectly organized and ready to go.  I know it will be there soon.  I have a super amazing group of students and an awesome partner teacher.  The staff have all been super supportive.

Teaching this time around will be different.  I've never really done the whole full time working mom thing.  It will be an adjustment for everyone.  I can't just go to morning meetings easily, I'll have the kids.  I can't simply go in early.  I have three kids to get ready and out the door.  I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the balance of Facebook and teaching.  I'm "friends" with several parents.  Do I make the blog private?  Teaching in your kids' school definitely creates some weird blurred lines.  Randomly, I am teaching the kids of the two teachers who have Eileen and Linus this year.  

For now, I've got lots to do.  So very very very much to do.  If you need me, I'll be in Room 6A (name plate still has to be changed).