Adventures in…3rd Grade!

With all the chaos of last minute wedding planning, there’s a little secret that I’ve been keeping from you. Not intentionally, so much as I’ve just been super busy finalizing all the paperwork and finishing up our wedding planning. A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to wear this cute outfit, which Corey’s mom and I purchased earlier in the spring. 

I was asked to interview for a school district in New Jersey that I have been interested in for pretty much the entire time I lived here. It has a fabulous reputation and many things about it remind me of my old school district in Greenville, SC. Everything happened very fast. I was called to schedule an interview over a month ago and was given one of two open interview slots. I updated my portfolio and prepared a demo lesson teaching fractions with Hershey bars. Oh, how I love third grade curriculum! Just two hours after my interview, I was notified that I was a finalist. Then, I had another interview and was offered the position just a few days later. 

In a way, this is very bittersweet as I resigned my Kindergarten teaching position in the innercity charter school where I worked last year. Leaving my old school was very difficult because I felt very needed working innercity. I knew I was making a difference, even though my job could be pretty challenging. I gave 110% everyday and often came home completely exhausted. I’m grateful of the challenges because I definitely feel like I’ve grown. If you’re a visitor of Lipstick, Lattes, and Lesson Plans, then you know I now feel like a classroom management pro. I feel really close with the faculty and staff at my old school and will definitely miss them. If I have any teachers reading, then I know you understand how emotionally connected you become with your school. 

BUT, I am beyond thrilled about the upcoming school year. I student taught third grade and it has been my favorite grade thus far (and now I’ve done fifth, first, and kindergarten.) Third grade is such an important grade where the kids learn and grow so much. Multiplication, cursive writing, novel studies. I am so excited to be going back to third grade and I can’t wait to meet my new group of students. I just know we are going to have such a fabulous time together this school year! I already love my new district and feel right at home. I am so very excited for this new step!