Ch-Ch-Ch Changes!

I'm not one to seek out change. 

Change is generally scary for me and I like my routines very much. 

But, since I'm in the teaching biz, change is inevitable.

Often, I don't get much say in the changes put on my plate.

Policies

Curriculum {or lack thereof...)

CSAP/TCAP/cCRAP

{Testing in general, really...}

Salary
Budget

Student selection for my classes

Class size

Etc.Etc.Etc.

BUT!

I had the opportunity to choose a new path for myself this school year.

{Okay, so I had to jump through a few hoops, but it's teaching! Of course there are hoops!}

At the end of last year, I was feeling a bit restless in my current position. 

I was also feeling devastated a bit sad that my best friend Hannah was leaving me for another district.

{Yes, LEAVING ME!}

I pictured the next school year and realized that I NEEDED a change. 
I needed a new space for my teaching soul to reside.
 I needed to change the way I looked at students, 

curriculum {or lack thereof...} 
and really, my general outlook just

HAD

TO 

CHANGE!

So, with a VERY small window in which to make this change happen, I scrambled around to see if a change was possible.

It was. 

{!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

 On the last day of school it became official--

I would be teaching 8th grade, upstairs. 

{Oh, I guess I should tell you I have been teaching 6th and 7th grade for the last 4 years, downstairs--

upstairs houses 8th-11th grade--yeah, the BIG kids!!!!!}

All summer I have hoped that I made the right decision--it is a CHANGE after all!!

{YIKES!}

I decided to go back to work early so I could set up my new classroom. I was/am a little sad to cut my summer short, but I knew I needed to feel at home; so putting in some work now would be worth it later.

When I saw my name on the door, I got giddy. 
It was just so real! 

When I saw the mountain view, I squealed with excitement.

{It might not seem like much...but trust me. This view makes my soul happy.}

When I saw all the boxes, I was overwhelmed. 

But knowing I could start fresh in this space made me feel at ease and happy.

 And, after a strong 18 hours of work, I think I am on my way to making this space a home for me,  and my students.

Change can be good, and I have a feeling this change is going to be really good.

{And, don't worry, I have a little bit of Hannah with me here too. 

Yes, I have her name-tag from her old classroom taped inside a cupboard...}

{ :) }