Goodbyes

Two years ago I packed up my classroom at Woodville High school to move to New Hope Elementary school to "Better" myself. It was the best thing to do at the time. I was now going to get paid more, be closer to home, and be at the school that Ellie will attend. I really struggled with wether I should leave or not. I had tenure in Jackson County and would lose it moving, but again I felt it was the best decision.

Guess I was wrong.

Now two years later, I'm packing up my classroom at New Hope Elementary to move it into storage. No other classroom to move it into. Are you shocked?

I was, when I got my letter Tuesday afternoon. I had made it through two rounds of cuts and transfers, and even signed my coaching contract for next year!!! I thought I was good! Then out of no where I get hit with this. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. It came out of nowhere.

For two years, I taught 7th grade life science. I used lots of my high school lessons and labs to help "enhance" the students learning. Test scores proved what I was doing worked. Kids liked my class. I also coached basketball and softball. I felt like I was doing the best I could with those too. I enjoyed it. I was part of the LTF training (getting kids ready for AP classes in high school), took over the 21st century classroom (lots of technology and tech requirements), headed up the athletic banquet this year, got along very well with co-workers, and seemed like the "tech" person for 7th grade teachers. I thought I finally found the perfect job for me. Where I wanted to be till I retired.

I felt like I was a failure as a teacher. I thought I had done everything I was suppose to, played it by the book. I don't remember the last time I was this upset. Why? was the only thing I kept saying. That "Why?" still hasn't been answered.

Guess someone else has something better planned for me. I can't believe that this happened. All I can do now is pray and hope for the best. It's scary not knowing if you will be able to find a job or not. I am so scared that I won't find one. This economy and new laws may not allow it. I feel like I am valuable as a teacher. I hope that someone sees that and gives me a chance.

As for now, I will say my goodbyes to my New Hope friends. I hope that you will stay in touch (and I secretly hope you will miss me more when school starts). So Goodbye Friends! I'll see you around.

Life with my three year old

Well, Ellie got her cast off!! She is back to normal. Although I still see her from time to time using only her left hand, but I guess she just got so use to it. She is back to running and playing like normal. In fact, the night we got her cast off, we couldn't keep her from jumping on the bed!!!

I think that Ellie is starting to go through a phase of some sort. I have other friends that have kids the same age as Ellie and they are going through it too. I really don't want to think that she hates daycare. I know those ladies take extremely good care of her. Here lately she has been extremely clingy to me. She doesn't want to go to school because she "doesn't have any friends" or because the teachers "put me in timeout". She gets really upset when I leave her there. In fact, there have been numerous times that the teacher has had to pull her off of me!!! She wants mommy to do everything!! Of course she loves her daddy too. She will run to him and squeeze him so tight when she seems him. She always says, "Thank you so much for picking me up today", every time that we get her!! It's like she thinks we are going to forget her. I have never forgotten her! Well, maybe forgot to buckle her in her car seat once and went all the way to Walmart, but never just left her!! I hope that it is just a phase that she is going through. Summer starts for us in a week and she will be at home with me more. I don't want her to get use to that and make it even harder for me to leave her next school year.

On the lighter side, we have been getting more and more personality from her. Wow she is so funny! And sweet! Here are just a few sayings that I hear on a daily basis:

"I love you the mostest"

"It will make my dreams come true"

"Your so crazy"

"Come mere my kitty kat" (talking to me)

"Heyyy what are you doing?"

"Are you my friend?"

"Mom, mom, mom, mommy, mommy, Kelly"

"My name is Ellie Grace Etheredge" (produced by her f-fridge)