Back to school, back to school...

This weekend is my last weekend as a free woman.
[side note: I feel really strange calling myself a woman.]

This Monday, August 29th 2011 is my first day of school. And it's also my third grade class' first day of school. I am overcome with excitement. However, I'm just putting it out there-- I'm terrified. There were times throughout my college education that I thought I would never make it to student teaching, but here I am! I hope that I'm actually cut out for all of this. I hope that this next couple of months tells me that teaching is what I'm called to do, because I don't know what I would do with myself if all of a sudden I realized that I'm not meant to teach!

But I love working with kids. I have adored the time I spent in the Elementary Ed program for the past couple of years. You would think after all this time spent preparing in college that I would realize that I don't like teaching. So there. Nothing to worry about, Nicole! RIGHT?!

I've been working in my new classroom and with my lead teacher this past week, and attending meetings on the new Common Core Standards and the new lesson planning system that the district is implementing. This stuff scares me more than actually teaching does. The "curriculum engine" that teachers are required to use this year definitely complicates things! I'm just grateful that I'm a child of technology because the system is easy enough for me to navigate. It just stinks that while I'm learning all the ins and outs of teaching, my lead teacher will be learning how to use the new planning system and learning how to implement the new standards into already existing lesson plans. That's SO much learning! ;)

So cross your fingers for me that the next 14 weeks go smoothly! I won't be taking full control of the class until around October, so extra prayers during that month would be greatly appreciated. :) I expect bumps in the road at times, but all in all, my excitement definitely outweighs my fear of failure!