Lots of questions

In case you're wondering, I move to Atlanta in 17 days! Everything has flown by so quickly, so I am beginning to get very anxious about everything thats going on. This week I set up a call with my "SpEd" program director, AB. She is great! I was feeling so overwhelmed. For most people, they have been much more narrowed down in their possibilities for what they may teach. If you're certified in high school math, you teach high school math. However, if you're certified in SpEd, at this point you could be teaching any grade level and any subject. You might have your own classroom or you might share with another teacher. So I called to get a better idea of what I might be doing and what SpEd looks like in Atlanta. I'm definitely glad that I did. She told me that I will most likely be teaching secondary (middle and high school). She also said that the majority of her teachers are either in their own classroom teaching a specific subject just like any other teacher, but with only SpEd students. Or, they team teach but only do so in a certain subject.

She also said many reassuring words about how much faith and confidence she has in me, that she remembered me from my interview and at the time was thrilled at the possibility of me coming to Atlanta and teaching SpEd. So that certainly made me feel better =) Unfortunately, she also talked about how every year there are teachers who do not get placed in their schools until the first or second week of class. Talk about learning patience and flexibility. When God decides to test you, He sure doesn't like to do it in baby steps!! This is more like WHAM! But I accept the challenge!

The other thing I am struggling with right now is all of the diversity education they give us. All of the texts and readings we are assigned are a little overwhelming (I'm working on being patient and knowing that in just a few weeks it will all start to come together -- but its not exactly my style to not know exactly whats going on). But the toughest right now is the diversity part. It brings to mind lots of things, and is something that I struggle with the more I read. I guess thats the point of reading all of it -- for us to look hard at racism/prejudices we carry, whether consciously or unconsciously, but it certainly doesn't leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I think and pray for the students that I will have next year on a regular basis. I wonder where they are and what they are doing, what they are struggling with right now, who is on your side and who is making my job harder by telling them they can't do something... I ask God to send me the ones that need the most help, to send me challenging ones that He and I can reach together. I want my kids to know that they are important, that they are special, that someone believes in them, and that they can do anything they want to. I hope that is what I instill in them -- and that we move them up in grade levels at the same time!

Uh oh..

So, after all the excitement of the weekend (I'm an Auburn Alum!!!) I was struck with a pretty tough blow this morning when I checked out the TFA*Atlanta facebook group. Check out this ..

I am not sure what this completely means for me.. It will be interesting to find out what happens with this in Atlanta and what TFA does about it.


I hate my graduation parade being rained on =(