Moving to Second Grade are words I never, ever imagined that I would type. I did not see it coming at all. My first two years teaching were in kindergarten, that’s where my heart is and always has been. I was “asked” to go to third grade and then to first grade for a total of 15 years. Finally in 2015, I made it back to where I started. It has been a wonderful. I’ve taught kindergarten for a total of 11 years, the most of any of the grades I have taught.
For the last 5 years, I have had one constant, my teacher bestie. She had a tough year and to be honest, I have, too. I want to be clear, it is not teaching k or the kids. I love them both. We test for so many things and it has gotten to be ridiculous. There is no break in kinder. There is no quiet. We test individually, one on one. Things are continually added, but nothing is taken away. I see myself getting to do less and less of the things I love and more of the things I don’t.
So what to do? I see a lot of teachers leaving the profession. Or some choose to retire. Neither of those are an option for me. My bestie was willing to stay in K because she never imagined I would leave. After a random conversation, it turns out, I am willing to move. Perhaps a change is just what I need?
How do I feel?
I feel like a traitor. I am leaving the kids I love, the grade I have devoted SO MUCH of my life to over the years. After 26 years in the classroom and I feel like a failure for not staying in kindergarten. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s ok to make a change. I feel ok about it until I look at my new room and all the work it’s going to take. But I have done it before and I’ll do it again, right? Just as soon as our summer reading program ends and I can get started! (I’m still teaching!!)
But I also feel excited and nervous. New classroom, new age group, new standards, so much new stuff! My hope is that the change will help me and my bestie love our day to day again (she’s moving to 2nd, too!) To be honest, I wouldn’t have left kinder without her. So much of my life is teaching. That’s my personal choice. So this change is HUGE for me. I have been second guessing myself since the decision was made. Will I like it? I hope so!
The post Moving to Second Grade appeared first on Blue Skies with Jennifer White.
