Times they are a changin'

Have you ever wanted something, but didn't really know it?  So, you didn't try to get what it was?  Well, I did, and here's the story (sorry I couldn't tell anyone until it was all official).

For the past 14 years, I have taught in the same district about 17 miles from my house.  I've taught 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th grades.  This year, I spent the year with the Autism program.  I loved my district (though sometimes more than it loved me).  I got my MSE in administration and said the only way I would leave was for a principal job.  So this year, I applied for the AP job at the Middle School in my town (also where the monkeys attend).  I didn't get it, but they still had my file. 

Fastforward to the end of the year this year.  On the last day of school, my placement for next year was uncertain.  It was contingent on the skill set of a new hire that hadn't been made (I am good at MS Autism but also would like to try out Elementary, but if the new hire was better...I'd stay put).  I wasn't really worried. 

Then, a 2nd grade position opened up in hometown district.  My sister was on me about applying (she came from my district and now teaches in hometown district).  So, my mom called me one day and told me, "You should apply for that 2nd."  I said, "I don't know.  I'm not really feeling it.  But, if God wants me there, they'll call me."  This was in the parking lot of the library (we patronize the college library during the summer because it allows me to check out professional books and the children's collection is huge because of it being an education college).  So I hung up and we went in.  Whilst in the stacks, my phone rang.  I dashed to hit ignore and we proceeded to check out our finds.  When I got to the parking lot, I checked my voicemail.  It was the principal of Elementary #2 in hometown district calling for an interview.  Apparently, the superintendent's secretary (aka my sister's mother-in-law) moved my file from the administration stack to the teaching stack.  I called back and the interview was set up for the following Wednesday.  On Wednesday, I went in and pretty much hit it out of the park.  The principal said she would call on Friday or Monday.  However, on Thursday morning (less than 24 hours since the interview) I was offered the job.  I accepted (my DH and I had already had discussions about the scenario).  Then, I headed to my district to resign.  I made it with 15 minutes to spare before June's board packet had to be turned in (in July, there's a possibility of being fined).

Yesterday, I went in to sign my contract.  I am so excited for this change.  I feel like I was almost recruited to be here (the extra money without the commute is nice, too).  I am a little sad about leaving special education/letting people down, but I know those opportunities may present themselves here later on.  It's just amazing to me how God saw fit to make everything fall into place/open doors that couldn't be shut.

P.S.  Gold star to you if you knew that the title is a Bob Dylan song (two gold stars if you knew that song before it was on the Watchmen soundtrack).

The Lazy River...or is it?

My all-time favorite thing at the aquatic center in the next town over is the Lazy River.  Mostly because no one invades my personal space like in the big pool (since when does my foot look like a dive ring anyway?) or the sprayground (you know, with the fountains and big tippy bucket and one jillion small children with their parents).  The Lazy River gives each person her own personal bubble in the shape of an innertube.  The other reason is that there is no work involved (hence the name).  Park your bottom inside the middle, shove off and there you go. 

However, having two second graders with you (one of whom is not your own) is a game-changer for my trusty cooloff with little effort activity.  The Lazy River becomes (insert ominous music here)...the CRAZY RIVER!  Yesterday, my monkeys invited a friend each to the water park.  The Cub and his friend were pretty easy (there was the overall willy-nillyness of two boys who want nothing more in life than to be independent, but nothing major).  The Clover and her friend and the river were another story entirely.  First, there was the, "We'll just push off before she can so we'll be by ourselves."  Then there was the "I will perform gymnastic feats upon my tube." 

But what made it the crazy river?  Getting out.  The reason no effort is involved in floating, is the current.  Said current can't be bested by two young girls whose heads are barely above the water.  So when it is time to switch locations, it's up to the adult to get out of her own tube, while holding onto the other two and pull them out of the current (because if one lets go...the girl will have to go around the loop...again.).  That's what I did and also why my arms hurt today.

Be Still my Mother/Teacher heart!

Yesterday, I took the monkeys to the library at the local University.  I am an alumnus, so I still get to check out books for free (it's $15 for everyone else).  Why the University library?  Well, because our tiny town's library doesn't have enough non-fiction for juveniles...plus there's an elevator. 

When we arrived, we made our way to the 3rd floor and settled into the fiction alcove (I try to read all the state award nominees each summer).  I made my selections and we headed over to the non-fiction alcove where the Clover made hers (if you guessed all the books she chose were about chickens, you get a gold star).  Then, the Cubscout wanted to check the card catalog for a Star Wars book.  We went to the computer where he promptly put in the information he needed (Yay for the awesome librarian at his school!).  We found that the only Star Wars books in the library were either special collection for library use or adult fiction.  So, he asked if he could just go look at the adult fiction to see.  So, I said, "Yes." (Mostly because when I was his age someone thought that I should be looking at easier books, when I could read older ones and it really made me mad).  Then, this is the totally cool part...I showed him how to find it.  As an elementary student, he is used to going alphabetically or by Dewey, but yesterday he learned Library of Congress.

He found his book, pulled it off the shelf, held up one hand and opened the book with the other, then started reading.  HE WAS DOING THE FIVE FINGER RULE!!!  Without my prompting!!!  He got to the end of the first two paragraphs without lifting one finger and said, "I think this will do.  What do you think?"  I told him, I thought it would work as well.  Then we decided that because of the length, he should only check out one (too many library books around the house makes me nervous).

I had one more book that I wanted to check out over in the stacks.  Asked me if he could try to find it.  Of course I said yes, because I only showed him that one time how to find a book.  So, he took my slip with the call number and headed down the aisles.  He got a little hung up on the third set of numbers, but after I showed him again, he found the book I was looking for.  It was a nerdy treasure hunt.  I was so proud, I almost cried in the library.