Elementary Days...

I will start out by saying that I loved teaching middle school.  South Seminole took great care of me and I gained some really great friendships and learned so much in my 3 years teaching there. However; it was very far from the babysitter and hours of middle school STINK!  School started at 9:15 but did not end until 4:00.  I would rather start very early and be out early.  In May the opportunity came up to make a switch to elementary (which is what I originally planned on teaching).  Getting a job anymore is all about who you know and I knew some people who informed me there was an opening and that I should try it out.  Not ever having a "real interview" before, I was very nervous.  I went to the interview one morning all dressed up, briefcase in hand with my working portfolio, high heels on, hair all done and shaking from head to toe.  About 10 minutes into the interview, they offered me the job!!!!  I am now the new 5th grade teacher at Idyllwilde Elementary.

5th Grade will be nice because it is not too big of a jump from 6th to 5th.  However; there is a lot of work ahead of me.  I went from teaching six math classes a day now to teaching reading, writing, science, social studies and math.  As excited as I am, I feel like I have done a cannon ball into a pool not knowing how to swim. 

Yesterday I met with my 5th grade team leader and she was wonderful!  I really enjoyed getting to talk to her. (Also, all of the 5th grade teachers have emailed hellos and invited me to a cookout already which is very nice.)  However; walking into the classroom that is empty I started to freak out a bit.  You mean I have to actually decorate my room to look like a 5th grade classroom and I do not even know what a 5th grade classroom looks like?  When I did student teaching in elementary it was in Kindergarten.  I cannot decorate it like that.  HELP?!?!?!   Here are some pictures of the empty classroom I saw yesterday.  (It was so super clean and I love the room though.)




This is when you walk into the classroom and see the front of the room.



From the door straight ahead.



Walk towards the front of the room and turn back and look at the doorway.Not sure what the teacher before did with this "fill your bucket" theme.




Oh my library so far.  These were books left for me.  I have quite a few more to add to the collection but no theme or anything for reading.  I need help! :)




The cute cubbies in the back of the room and backpack holders. 


I am getting excited to get started but Mike says I am wishing away my summer.  I am not trying to do that at all, just realizing I better get started on at least thinking through ideas of classroom set up etc before I get there the first day.  I do not want to be completely overwhelmed and crash the first week.  :)  Any ideas are helpful- PLEASE GIVE IDEAS!

I will keep you updated after with some pictures as well.  Thanks for joining me today in the nervous but excited new job beginnings.

-Katie