Being the "real teacher"

It has been over 5 months since I have updated my blog. Turns out moving across the country and it being my first year teaching is actually a lot of work. Who knew!?!? Needless to say I have been quite busy with getting my classroom up and running, lesson planning, IEP's, meetings, trying to have a life outside of school, etc. I have thought quite a few times over the past several months about updating it but never could muster up the energy to do so. Yes, I have been that exhausted. But I do want to share with all of you the great things over the last few months and also a few of the challenges- which have all made me stronger. So here we go!

I finished up the TFA summer institute in the middle of July. Thank goodness. It was super challenging because I had to lesson plan and such  by following the TFA model, and I was used to doing it completely different. While I agree that learning to do something a new way is good, I don't enjoy being told how I have to plan my lessons. But I got through it, thanks so an incredible collaborative team, super cool mentor, new friends and of course, the most adorable group of 1st grade kiddos ever!

It was stressful throughout institute trying to figure out where I was going to live after institute was completed. I checked out a few places, but honestly I had no idea where to begin. This was a completely new place and I wasn't sure of the "good" pockets of town and the "not so good" pockets of town. Thankfully, my Grandma was talking with her friend Eileen about my adventure in the Valley of the Sun. Eileen had a niece living and teaching out in the West Valley. So they were in contact with Kristi, telling her I was new to the area. Thankfully she took pity on me and came all the way across town and picked me up for the day. She took me all around the West Valley- her apartment, lunch out, bowling and Peter Piper Pizza with some of her friends. It felt like we had been friends forever! It was such a nice time. I mentioned that I was looking for an apartment and it worked out that she needed a new roommate...and the rest is history! Whew! Not only was I relieved to know I had a place to live after institute, but I was also going to live with a pretty cool chick. Woohoo!

School began the beginning of August. I teach in a self-contained special education classroom. I started out with 5 students and a parapro. I felt like I had no idea what I was doing. I mean, yeah Grand Valley and my student teaching placements had taught me so much, but nothing can really prepare you for the real deal. I was now the "real" teacher. So excited yet totally terrified at the same time.
I immediately fell in love with my kiddos. So adorable! We quickly dove into learning and the kids were genuinely excited to learn (gotta love that)! Thankfully, Renae the teacher next to me, helped me so much. Ideas for lessons, insights on the kids, a shoulder to cry on and of course my daily dose of humor. As a fellow Michigander, she knew what it feels like to move across the country from everything you have ever known. She is truly a Godsend and incredible sister in Christ.

I wasn't the only new special education teacher at my school. Mitch was the new resource teacher. This was his first year of teaching and he just moved from Michigan as well! We quickly became really good friends to one another and honestly have been clinging to each other as life vests to stay afloat. Oh the reality of being a first year teacher. So not only was it the first year of teaching for both of us, but we are also the only two special education teachers at our school. Whoa.

As the school year went on, I continued to love spending time with my kiddos. But something that seemed to be true is that the population in our community is very transient. Moving around. Coming and going. It was super hard to have some of my kiddos move to a different school because they had to move with their families. However, it was also exciting to get some new kiddos as well.

Unfortunately things were not going so well with my assistant. I don't want to say much but thankfully he is no longer at our school and I now have a fantastic assistant who knows how to work with kids and understands the unique qualities of my special needs students.

Due to an influx in school enrollment, I had to move to a classroom in the portable at my school. I was bummed at first because I would no longer be next to Renae and I had put so much time and effort into making that first classroom exactly what I had wanted it to be. Although, once I began moving to the new classroom, I became excited. I was now across the hall from Mitch and my new classroom seemed to be much more comfortable and home-like. I had a new way to arrange my classroom, and different ways to decorate it. It turned out to be much better for us and our needs.

I feel like I have learned so much for it only being my first year of teaching. There have been so many ups and downs. The good parts have been wonderful and while the hard parts have been challenging, I feel like it has all helped me to grow not only as a teacher, but also as a person. So I go by the quote by Shauna Niequist "When life is sweet say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter say thank you and grow."

In addition to life as a teacher, I have been able to explore the Phoenix area as well as other parts of AZ. Since I live in the West Valley, I have kept busy with nearby shopping, museums, sightseeing and the Westgate Center that has tons of restaurants and entertainment. Kristi, Mitch and I often go out to eat to the Sandbar (a real favorite of ours), Macayos, Applebees, etc. Then usually come back to our apartment and watch a movie and go to the hot tub. This is our idea of having a social life :)

We were able to go to Sedona while my Mom and Grandma were out to visit us during Labor Day weekend. We hiked to Cathedral Rock, drove around looking at all of the beautiful landscapes, Chapel Rock and many other cool things. We also went down the Apache trail to Tortilla Flats and over to Mesa to check out the huge indoor flea market. It was quite an awesome weekend!
Over Thanksgiving break, Kristi's Mom came out and we went up to the Grand Canyon. That place is even more beautiful than I remembered it being when I was there in July. Incredible piece of artwork created by God's hands. We drove through Flagstaff on our way up there. Pretty cool place. If we would have had the time, we would have gladly spent a day or two exploring! On the way home we stopped in Sedona and went to Slide Rocks. Awesome place.
Kristi and I have a list of things that we still want to do: Weekend in Flagstaff, Out of Africa zoo, Payson old west town, San Diego, hiking at South Mountain, White Tank Mountains and Camelback Mountain, etc. Lots of things we are excited to do.

I am really enjoying my experience thus far in AZ. While it is certainly very different from what I have always known, it is good and beautiful in so many ways. I never would have imagined that God would lead me to such a place, but he so clearly did. He has a purpose for me being there and I am excited to see what he reveals to me.
I'm not sure where I will go once my two year commitment with TFA is completed but I have been praying fervently about it. I have always had a plan. I knew in high school that I was going to Grand Valley to become a SpEd teacher and I knew my senior year at GV that I had a teaching position waiting for me in Phoenix, Arizona. So while I am trying to focus and concentrate on the here and now, I can't help but think about and wonder where I might go next. :)

I have started thinking about different areas of the US that might be nice. I don't know if Michigan is where I am supposed to be, but it is still up for consideration :) I am really interested in Colorado..maybe I will go there for a few days of my spring break and check out the Denver area.
I also feel led to do some short-term missionary work abroad during summer months but God and I haven't yet figured out what He wants me to do.
So for right now I am content in my adventure in AZ and all of the incredible experiences and people I have met since moving there. Please pray for me and my teaching, my students, friends and family I am far from and of course, trusting totally the plan God has for my life :)

Love you all!