The times they are a-changin'...or maybe it's A Whole New World?

I have been thinking about writing this post for a long time now but just haven't been able to bring myself to do it. Until now. I think. I still have a lump in my throat as I begin writing. You see, Kristi and I are both moving on. No more Lit Pit (the actual, physical thing), no more daily collaboration with some pretty amazing people (although I'm sure there are lots of amazing people where I'm headed, just not the ones I'm used to), no more sharing an office and all that entails (good and bad). Heck, no more office!

Kristi is headed off to an amazing opportunity at a local private school; she will be their Director of Teaching and Learning and will get to do everything she loves doing (teaching, coaching, learning), plus be at her kids' school. Can't beat that, can you?

I am moving back to the classroom after 11 years as a Learning Assistance Teacher. I will be teaching Gr. 2 French Immersion, which is exciting and terrifying all at once. So many reasons for the move though; I, too, will be at my daughter's school, my commute will be a two minute walk with said daughter, I get to try all the classroom-y things that as a specialist teacher I always wanted to try but never had the opportunity to (flexible seating, here I come!) and I truly love the community feel of the school that I am joining. Nobody seems to believe that I will be in the classroom for long (I am very passionate about supporting struggling learners) but I think it gives me some great opportunities to put my money where my mouth is and use those strategies that I suggest to teachers all the time. I am leaving myself open to whatever comes my way down the road but I know that for at least this one year I will be a Gr. 2 teacher.

I'm pretty sure that the reason I've been struggling to write this is that it makes it final in some weird way. I mean, we knew Kristi was headed off in a different direction in about February/March and my move was finalized by the middle of May, so it's not like I didn't know this was coming. Somehow though, writing it down makes it feel even more final than taking everything off of the shelves and packing up boxes. Strange the way that works.

Stay tuned for some changes to the blog as I shift focus a little bit. Lots more about the classroom, I'm sure, and hopefully more regular posts!

PS - the title comes from the fact that every time I think about my new classroom I either hear Bob Dylan or A Whole New World from Aladdin in my head...hoping we can move on from that soon!