Since I had left the realm of Science, there have been some major changes in our TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) standards. To some of you this may sound strange, but we do not use the Common Core that most of you are used to. I think Texas and Alaska are the only states that do not use the Common Core Standards. I don't know how I feel about that because, truthfully, I have had neither the opportunity nor the time to compare the two. I hope to one day do so, but until then....
With the change in content, comes a change in classroom, which means packing up and moving to another building. This too, has me giddy...why? My school is older (built in 1970) and the classroom I was in this past year had no windows and shared a wall with the boy's weight room. I spent most of the day listening and trying to teach over the sounds of weights and barbells hitting against each other along with the motivational grunts of 60-80 7th and 8th grade boys (per 8 class periods) trying to lift trying to build their muscles. Fortunately, my science classroom will be in the new science building. It has windows (is that the sun?) and is about 3 times larger than my other classroom. No boy's gym for me... yay!
So here I sit...it's 4:30 in the morning (Saturday morning I might add), trying to write down a list of EVERYTHING that I have to do and it is a little intimidating. I know that it will get done but I start getting nervous at this time every year. I have some ideas but still have to work them through. I spent most of the summer on Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers (here's the link to my little store) looking at so many great ideas, but now feel slightly overwhelmed.
And with all that said, I would like to propose a toast (holding up my cup of coffee). To all the teachers out there: I know how hard teachers work, we have to endure comments from our non-teaching counterparts about how we get the entire summer off and we don't have to work that hard (try being in a room with 25-30 13 year olds). But I know that you have probably spent countless hours this summer planning and preparing, learning and observing, reflecting and analyzing what you do in order to get better and provide enriching experiences to the students. In August (or September for some of you), when those kiddos walk back in our door, we will be prepared, having spent our summer doing so, for most everything that will come at us...and guess what... WE LOVE IT! If we didn't, we wouldn't have done all of this. We love that moment when we see the lightbulb come on and see the shine in that kiddo's eyes when they finally get it! We love having our students be happy to come to school because they like it and we love the challenge of getting those students who don't like coming to school to one day acknowledge that they really do. Most of all...we love the STUDENTS! How could you not? We do all of this for them...
Back to planning,
