A lot has happened since my last post! I taught first grade for three years and it was a wonderful and rewarding experience. Toward the end of my third year of teaching, I had my son and decided to leave teaching and stay at home full time. Once my little guy started preschool, it was time to find something to do for work part-time. A friend heard I was looking for a PT job and knew I had teaching experience, so she recommended VIPKID. I interviewed with them and started working right away. As a VIPKID teacher, I taught English to Chinese children online. It was awesome! After about a year and a half with VIPKID, I returned to work full time as a renewal rep at an insurance brokerage company. When I am not working, I help my son find his love for learning in our "sea of learning" here at home!

Thank You Teachers!

This blog was originally created to share my future classroom lessons, activities, and day to day fun. :)  I am still actively looking for a teaching position and will someday use this for those things, BUT, in the mean time...

I LOVE following all the other teachers blogging out there. I follow many blogs and am impressed and inspired by what is posted and shared. Whether I am looking for a creative anchor chart, classroom organization idea, or lesson plan, I can find it through these fabulous blogs.  

So... THANK YOU TEACHERS! 

End of the year LINKY PARTY

I saw this Linky Party on my friend's new fancy-fun blog The Science Life and had to join in on the fun! Amber from Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher (who I just started following) is hosting a linky party called "Another One Bites the Dust" to wrap up the school year.

The theme of Amber's linky party is The Great and The Not-So-Great. If you want to participate- just read my Greats & Not-So-Greats below and then link up with Amber by clicking the link above. All you need to do is mention three great things about this past year and three not-so-great things about this past year.

And here we go...

The Great

1.Certified to teach in two states... 

I just received my scores on the final test I needed in order to obtain my Virginia 5 year renewable teaching license! This is no small feat a huge deal. I just moved to Virginia from Alabama not even two months ago (right after getting my Alabama license) and had to take two additional tests in order to get my renewable license here!

2. This is a big one...

I graduated this past December with my Masters Degree in Early Childhood/ Elementary Education! I worked my tooshie off and am so happy to have this under my belt. Woo-Hoo!! 

3. Everything happens for a reason...

I just recently started back at my old job, working part-time. It could not have been better timing for me.  They know I am looking for a teaching job and are happy to have me work for them until I find one.  I'm working with such nice people and it has taken so much pressure off me! 

The Not-So-Great 

1. Will teach for fun...

This one kind of corresponds with my third great.  I have applied for a teaching job at thirteen school districts since moving to Virginia in the beginning of April. I have only had one screening interview so far. That went well, but, they have no positions available. I know my classroom is out there waiting for me and I will be ready to make it a Sea of Learning with my Under the Sea theme, when it is time. 

2. Thank you Third Graders!

Thanks to an amazing cooperating teacher and a fantastic group of kids, I had a very positive and rewarding student-teaching experience. Very bummed that I moved to Virginia and was not able to see them once more before the end of the year.

3. Starting over...

After completing my student teaching and graduate studies in Alabama, I made some really great connections with people in the schools in that area. Now that I am in Virginia, I feel like I have to start over and it has not been easy. I know it will all work out... it is just a matter of time.

***Don't forget to link up to Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher***

VA Job Search & *Freebie* Unit on Money

We made the move to Virginia and I am officially on the job search here.  It is a beautiful place and I am really excited to hopefully, very soon, be able to teach here. Since we have pretty much gotten settled, I thought it was about time I posted something I could share with other teachers out here in the blog world.

I created a math unit on money during my student teaching. You can access it on TpT by clicking here. It was made for a third grade class, but it could easily be used in first or second grade as well. It includes four days worth of lessons on money using children's literature, games, and other activities. Enjoy!

First Ever Blog Post

I could not be happier to finally be part of the blogging world! After lots of help and support from my buddies, Emily and Deanna, I am up and running. This is my first blog and my first ever blog-post, so bear with me... ;-)

As a recently certified elementary school teacher (currently on the job search and working as a substitute), I look forward to connecting and exchanging ideas with other teachers. My husband just got transferred to Virginia, so we will be moving there (from Birmingham, Alabama) in about a month. I feel like it is perfect timing for us to make the move, since I have just finished my masters degree in education and have not yet found a teaching job. I'll be moving just in time to apply to schools in Virginia and hopefully find my first teaching job. I LOVE kids and I LOVE teaching! I can't wait to be able to have my own classroom someday...

Thank you for taking time to look at my blog and please check back for freebies and downloads in the future.