Summer classroom "bucket list"

Summer, my summer at least, has finally arrived. Our year-round school calendar didn't finish up until June 28th - and I felt like we were just limping toward the finish line by the last few weeks. Our end of grade testing was the second to last week of school and I'll be honet - we did not do much of substance after those two days were over. We made 'Memory Bags' as our end of the year reflection project; finished A Wrinkle in Time and watched the movie version, then compared the two; played many games of "Splat" - a multiplication facts review game that involves me calling out facts and two kids using fly swatters to compete to be the first one to find the correct product; had field day; and made "Top 10 Things You Need to Know" lists for my class next year. The last eight days of school were at times maddening as the kids definitely checked out (but hey, I would too if I had just finished my end of grade testing) but we had a lot of fun, relaxed and just enjoyed being together as our year wound to a close. 

It was also bittersweet for me, because I was simultaneously packing up my classroom and preparing to move everything. I'm moving to a different school next year, one that is much closer to my house, and also switching grades, to third grade. I have loved my school these past two years - I've been blessed with two great groups of kids (this year more challenging than last, but still an awesome group) and parents, a supportive administration, and especially this year, an incredible grade-level team that I am thankful to also call my friends. This year was the first year in my professional life (9 years) where I felt I truly had friends at work. I've had a friend or two here and there in the places I've work, but I am so thankful for the five other 4th grade teachers that made every day so much more fun.  Part of that is because my professional career path has been a little disjointed up until the past few years when I started teaching and I definitely had (and still have) lots of friends from the two years I was in graduate school but it made life so much better to come to work with friends every day.  

I'm confident in my choice to transfer - two other of my team members are moving on because of changes in their lives so our team wouldn't be the same next year regardless if I stayed or not - and because I know I will be happier in the long run if I'm not driving so far to get to work each day. I'm also excited about the school where I'm moving and the freedom I'll have as a teacher to do things the way I want to. But, it was still a sad day. 

In addition to switching schools, I'm also switching calendars from a year-round to traditional. That means I get a long summer this year! Six weeks, to be precise. We're going to go to the beach and to California to see family (our little 5 months old twin nephews!) but for most of it, I'll be at home.  I've made a running list on Pinterest and in my phone of projects I want to do while I have extra time. I'll be moving my things into my new classroom on Monday and I  know I'll be spending extra time there for awhile getting things unpacked, organized, and set up the way I want them. For this week though, I'm getting a few things done around our house that had been languishing and enjoying sleeping in and pretty much doing whatever I want. 

In the next few days, I want to elaborate on the school where I'm going to be teaching next year, reflect a little more on this past year, and share some projects I'm going to be doing to prepare for my next class.