Year 1 of Year 3

Let me explain.  This is my third year of teaching, but it is my first year of teaching special education.  And I love it.  I really do.  Dansie kept waiting for me to have my "beginning of the school year meltdown," but it never happened.  Serious hallelujah.

So, because at least a dozen people have asked me how it's going and/or how it's different than my last two years, in no particular order, here is a list of the top 8 reasons why I'm enjoying what I'm doing from 8-3.
1.  I have administrative tasks to do. Don't laugh.  I love that part.  I love feeling like a "manager" over the 14 kiddos on my caseload.  I love chasing them down, chatting with them, and being their laison.  I love it.
2.  I'm in my home classroom only 2 hours of the day.  Yes.  And I love it.  My day flies by.  I walk probably 1.5 miles every day because the classroom where I go 3 hours of the day is all the way across the building (and our building is ginormous). 
3.  I can really focus on individualizing the curriculum for specific students with very specific needs.  Part of what stressed me out about the general classroom was the fact that, at any given time, 30 students would be demanding my full attention.  Yikes.  In my new position, my stellar co-teacher can handle the class while I grab a few students who need excessive amounts of attention.
4.  I'm forced to think about what I'm teaching my babes.  In my previous position, the curriculum was pre-determined by the district (which is awesome...especially for a new teacher).  However, it's causing me to exercise different "muscles" as I'm attempting to figure out what I want my tiny class of 6 (yes, friends, 6!!!) to learn by the end of the semester/year.  I love the planning aspect of teaching, so I'm happy to continue doing that.
5.  I feel like I know fewer students, but those I know, I really know.  You know what I mean?
6.  I co-teach with a good friend.  So fun.  Every day.  And even when the kiddos don't think we're funny, we think we're funny.  It's so good.
7.  I'm loving my new department.  Loving the support and the relationships I'm building.
8.  I have a para (or co-teacher) in every class.  That extra adult in the room is excessively helpful.

So life is good.  Still extremely challenging and frustrating at times, but, for me, this was the best career move I could have made.  I'm incredibly thankful for the 2 years I spent in the general classroom, but I'm just tickled pink to be where I'm at.  And to think that in my initial interview with my district, when my head principal asked me if I would be willing to teach special education (since they were trying to fill a few positions and knew that I was certified in SPED), I vehemently said, "No."  Ha. 

Friends, SPED is not scary.  Different, but definitely not scary.  So many people stay away from it because it is different and, thus, apparently terrifying.  It's not.  Sure, it's not for everyone, but it is a beautiful part of the school. 

To end this "several people have asked so I want to indulge everyone" post, I'll leave you with a brief, but enlightening, story.  In chatting with one of my girlies (who has mild disabilities but pretty major social disabilities) yesterday, she told me about her sister who is 28 and about to get divorced for the second time.  My gal seemed pretty disheartened about it, but after chatting for a moment, she all of a sudden said, "But it's okay.  We're having pizza tonight!"  Simple minds are beautiful. 

My 21st first day of school.  Dan's idea. :)