--I relocated from Webb City, Missouri to Indianapolis. I love cities, so this place just fits me!
--I moved into a new apartment. It's a little outside the metro area, so I live across from a farm with horses, but can still get downtown in 15 minutes or less. Perfection!
--I got a new job. I went from teaching 6th grade Communication Arts to 100 kids, to teaching 21 4th, 5th, and 6th graders in a multi-level, multi-language, many-cultured, wonderful classroom.
--I've learned a ton of Spanish and a little Somali, Arabic, Turkish, Swahili and Tigrinya...plus a few others! And, yes, Google Translate is my best friend!
--I've realized how real the immigrant and refugee crisis is in our country. And by "crisis", I mean the struggle these precious babies and their families face getting here and living here. The circles under their eyes in the morning are not from playing X-box all night...it can be from all kinds of adult problems they face too early in their young lives.
--I have a new blog. --sad sigh-- Normally, I'd be excited, but I'm actually mad at myself for not transferring ownership of the blog to my new email before the school more. So...my last 4 years of Slicing can be found at misscollins606.blogspot.com. I figured this out yesterday, so I threw together this one. I'll refine it later, but it'll do for now!
--I've rekindled friendships that had been lost in time and made lifelong friends with my new colleagues. It felt like I had never left when I reunited with my old friends...hugs and tears of happiness! And my colleagues...the best! It is a unique experience to be in a school with only Newcomer ELLs, and you form some pretty quick bonds with the people who are there with you!
--This is the first year I'll be slicing alone at school. To be fair, I didn't ask around, but it's a little sad. I hope my Webb City slicers find me in Indy! I miss my writing community!
Happy Slicing, everyone! :)
Loved this! Might have to steal this idea. It is so cool to look back at our slices and see how things have changed. Your changes sound exciting! Congratulations on your new position1
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing opportunity you have to change the world through education. Imagine the slices of life you hear every day from the lives of your students! I especially love the line "The circles under their eyes in the morning are not from playing X-box all night...it can be from all kinds of adult problems they face too early in their young lives." This reminds me that our jobs as teachers is to never assume anything about the experiences of our students, and that building relationships is the #1 part of our work. Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteFirst, blog looks great! Second, wow, lots of changes!! Looking forward to reading more about your new setting. "The circles under their eyes in the morning are not from playing X-box all night..." is a powerful sentence!
ReplyDeleteClare
Wow, Katy! I am in IPS, and an ESL teacher too! (School 90)So you are not entirely alone. I have been part of SOLSC since 2012 and have touted it to our colleagues many times.
ReplyDeleteThis Webb City friend has found you! As much as I miss seeing your glowing face around school, I'm still so excited for your "new" adventure. I look forward to reconnecting through our slices during March. :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad to find you again this year!!
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