A Full Day!

I am FINALLY sitting at the computer relaxing. It has been a very good day, just incredibly busy. Mr. H. said he wanted to hear comparisons, so I have a few to share.

I started the day meeting the Special Education Team from my building at Starbucks so we could ride together to Convocation. I find it interesting the team I am on for this year. We all get along, but it sort of reminds me of my last school where I remember thinking, "How is this all going to work?" It's quite funny that both of us special educators for the building have the same first name, so I feel like I'm back in college because everyone is calling me by my last name again! It's cool. I feel like I have a nickname all over again! It's cool!

Convocation was almost an exact duplicate of where I came from. It was the same in having the typical jazz band as we entered, mingling among the staff to begin, motivational speech from the superintendent, video presentation of teacher of the year, speech by teacher of the year, and each staff had matching shirts! The only thing they did that my former district didn't do which I really liked was that they honored the staff who passed away in the past year. It wasn't anything huge, but it was very respectful. I liked that.

After that I went to lunch with the special education team I'm on. I think it's cool that we're all about the same age. Granted, I'm the only single one so I was left out of a lot of the conversations, but I expected that. I'm pretty quiet in groups of adults but chatter up a storm one-on-one. It was fun.

After that we had the standard back-to-school Special Education Meetings. We had a workshop on measurable goals, another one on positive intervention, and one on writing a Present Level of Performance. I will say that I am blessed to have had the background of my former district, because I feel that they were a step ahead of what we have here. I need to send out a letter to the Special Education Secretary in my former district and tell her I'm glad she was so hard on me! I feel like what was covered today that was "new" to the staff here was stuff I have already been doing. :-) I am blessed.

I came home long enough to let Jay out before my Building Leadership Team (BLT) meeting tonight. Jay was EXCITED to see me, and honestly it was HARD for me to leave him. But, he is now loose in the living room and everything is still in tact. :-) I feel less guilty leaving him in the living room!

I went to BLT, and am glad I'm on that committee. There are SEVERAL differences between the world here and the world I came from.

For instance, the kids have CHOICES on what to eat for lunch. 5 different choices, daily. It sounds like a hassle to me, but it's how the district does it. I can't wait to see how that works! Also, we have AIDES that do lunchroom and recess duty. So, for the first time in my career, I won't have duty for either one! YIPPEE! Also, we have aides that will run copies for us, laminate stuff, etc. I tell ya, it's a whole other world here.

I REALLY like my new principal. She and I kept joking back and forth tonight at the meeting, which was fun. I'm curious to see how all this is going to play out, but I really have a good feeling about working for her. Which is VERY important in the teaching world! Trust me, I have had good and bad, and it feels good to be under someone I like!

I came home and my neighbor and I took Jay for a walk. I needed it just as much as he did. After sitting all day, it felt good to walk and get some exercise. I'm wiped now, but it was a nice day.

While I will share the more differences later between districts, I am wiped and want to rest. I have a dog who needs some attention!

As always...

Life.
Is.
Good.