Home from work, late lunch with friends... a whole day of teaching behind me-- vocabulary (root word-form.... words like uniform, conform, conformist, transform, etc.), literature centers (Fever, 1793 and Maniac Magee, hyperbole, trying our best to write like Jerry Spinelli), watching the finished product of the Joffrey Ballet's collaboration with our students and five other schools' students, math extended response... and it's only 5:00. I'm still trying to wrap my fingers and mind around the changes I'll be experiencing in *new school*. I know things often seem better from a distance, but some of the positive changes I anticipate and hope to see come to fruition...

*integration of "non-academic" subjects*
I grew up in a public school- A fine and performing arts magnet public school- and had early exposure to the arts. I believe FIRMLY that being exposed to Spanish, Music, Art, Photography, Musical Theater and a variety of cultures only served to strengthen my academic progress and my success as a thinker, student, and world-citizen. Music benefitted my mathematical skills, foreign language my verbal and grammatical skills, art my critical thinking and inferencial skills, and so on. Those extras are essential to my being an extra successful person. *New school*'s curriculum boasts bi-weekly art, music, Spanish, gym, computer science, and library science. Woo-Hoo!

*a love of reading, not reading to test*
Oh, the smell of feel of a good book. Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden... How amazing it was, as a child, to be pulled into the twists and turns of a plot, the drama and disaster. *New School* has a vibrant reading program, where the kids are welcome into the principal's office at any time to get recognition for their reading accomplishments, and where reading is not just a means to accomplish a test, but something to be loved and valued.

*great programming*
If you remember back, you'll recall my disappointment when I was sent to a writer's workshop but not encouraged to use what I had learned... Providentially, *New School* also uses writer's workshop, so I'll hopefully be able to put my skills to new use and develop them.

*LOVE*
'nuf said

I HOPE THIS BEATS THE BLUES...

It's been long. Too long. I think I've been locked in a funk... knowing I was leaving, unsure if I was making the right choice, but the news is official...

I HAVE A NEW JOB!

I will be starting in the fall at a charter school located only five minutes from where I'm currently teaching, serving the same population, but in a different manner. I hope i will be revitalized, reinvigorated, and renewed as an educator. I know I will be.

I have learned a lot these past two years, but am excruciatingly excited to be going to a school that recognizes the importance of art, music, language, gym, library, and computer sciences to young mind. A school that embraces recess. A school that will let me teach and believe at the same time. It won't be perfect, I'm sure, but I'm excited already...

If you want more info, let me know.

Oh jeez.

I fell off the face of the earth. I'm returning though, but first I have to go do this mock teaching lesson....

I'll be back.