School's Out!

Desks are cleaned. Report cards went home. Final assembly is over. Teachers waved the buses away. Keys are turned in.

It's summer!

Here's a video of some of the highlights of the year with my students. It's a little long (11 min), but they are cute, so it's worth your time. :)

http://animoto.com/play/beZS08F1M8KjpI08zz2pQQ

I'm thrilled to say that I will be coming back to Rosslyn Academy next year, but instead of teaching fourth grade, I'll be teaching second. Initially I was to say for one year, filling in for a teacher on sabbatical. I knew that if an elementary position became available, I would love the opportunity to stay on longer than a year. However, nothing seemed too possible and it looked like I would be returning to Florida- which would have been great, but deep down I wanted to stay at Rosslyn.

Thinking that maybe I could stay in Nairobi, I applied to another international school here. I've typically ask God to make things so obvious to me so that I'll know what I'm supposed to do. Well, I didn't even get an interview. Door closed. A little stunned, I resigned myself to the idea that God only wanted me here a year and that was that.

A few months later and I was already thinking about life in Wauchula, how I would transition back to being a public school teacher, and wondering about what grade I would teach. Seemingly out of the blue, a position became available and I was offered the second grade spot. Door opened. It would seem like a no-brainer, but I had already started thinking about Florida and preparing myself for the move back home.

After praying about it and talking it over, I took the job. It seems that the theme of this chapter in my life is about trust, and trusting that God will take care of needs and even attend to the wants of my life. I know that teaching is one way God can use me, and I totally believe that can be in Nairobi or Wauchula.

I've already started looking at second grade blogs and thinking how I want to organize my classroom. I have a loft! It's in a circular building, so the shape is a little funky. There are lots of windows and I'll still have a Smart Board.

Luckily, I know some pretty awesome former second grade teachers that I'm looking forward to chatting with, if there are any other current/former second grade teachers who have any advice for me...let's hear it! The same goes for any current/former second grade students! ;)