New Job, New Fun, New Challenges

This school year I started in a new position.  I'm half time as a elementary learning specialist and half time in a new position, created this year, completing academic testing for Special Program for our school district.  I go to any school requests my help to tests student's academic levels.  We're almost two months into the school year and I can honestly say I'm loving my job.  I was surprised last spring when I found out I would be moving from middle school to elementary and a little scared.  I hadn't taught elementary in over ten years and felt I was just getting a handle on middle school standards and curriculum.  And ta da!  I completely enjoy and am thankful for this opportunity.  I'm learning so much about myself as a teacher, person, teammate, and mom with my new job.  I can honestly say, I'm having one of the best years ever professionally.

My own kids are thriving.  My step son is in 8th grade, doing well, in Advance Band, and is a typical 13 year old boy.  6th grade has been great for my step daughter.  She's in Band as well and can't wait to tell me what she made in Family and Consumer Studies (FACS, formerly Home Ec) that day.  Hudson is loving his new daycare.  He is even cheerful about going in the mornings and doesn't cling to me when I drop him off.

We've made some headway in our sleeping arrangements too.  Hudson decide he wanted to sleep in his own room, in his own bed.  I turned his crib into a toddler bed and he sleeps in it all by himself.  There is a caveat to the tale - one of us has to be in the room while he falls asleep.  Good thing we have two queen beds.  Now we just have to not fall asleep in Hudson's room getting him to sleep so we can sleep together.  And who said if we practiced 'family bed' and all slept together Hudson would never sleep in his own room until he was 8 or 9?  Well, I'm here to prove you wrong.  Potty training on the other hand, we are still fighting that battle.

Just when I thought...

that everything was falling back into place, I get sick, have to take three days off from school, and lost my voice within six hours on Thursday.  A new laryngitis record for me.  The house was finally getting back into a bit of order.  Folded clothes weren't stacking up on the couch.  Toys were put away and the floor was swept daily.  Now I've been sick for a week and a half, had just enough energy to go to work and come home to play with my son for a bit before falling asleep on the couch.  Speaking of the couch, I've been sleeping on it for over a week now.  I don't want my husband or son to get this.
Just when I thought things were 'calming down' at school, I find out my team was doing the right thing for our kids before we were told to do something else.  Having multiple people to report to and get direction from can be challenging.  This year in particular.  I sometimes wish someone would tell me what to teach, how to do it and give me time to fully prepare.  Some teachers say you can never feel fully prepared.  I believe that to a small degree.  Teaching kids with special needs and intervention classes means you have to be able to reinvent, reteach, and reconnect concepts that have been, are being or will be taught.  I sometimes think I'm a challenge junkie.
I do have to say that my students, classes, staff, family, and friends are all wonderful and I'd be lost without them.
Okay, now how to kick this cold.....