New Beginnings

September 1, 2016 You can call me Ms. Durrance Good News!           I've been given an opportunity to teach at a Charter School this year! I am so excited for the chance to change young people's lives again. Timing is everything. I am so thankful and relieved, that I got to start at the beginning of the school year. It will give me a chance to lay down routines, procedures, create class rules, and get to know the students! I didn't get that chance last year, and over these last four days, I have seen just how important it is to have the teacher there the first day!           I have a new set up. Tile floors, pretty rug, no lockers, glass white boards, and a huge TV. It's homey, but I hope to add a few more "warm" touches over this next week (like lamps, more poster boards, and a huge calendar for the wall).            I'm grateful to have had the extra motivation from Travis. I was just about to substitute for the rest of the year, but I'm glad to have pushed forward in my application process. These students are so impressive, and their writing has blown me out of the water! The seventh and eighth graders have already read Shakespeare's, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and A Midsummer's Night Dream!All some of my favorites, and I can not believe they read it at this grade level. The students are advanced in areas of reading and writing, which is beautiful for me, because now I have the opportunity to make more rigorous lessons for them. I am looking into novels that we could read over the year, because next week is when we will dive into heavier content.              Congratulations to all my other teacher friends and family for starting off another school year strong! Keep your head up and continue to love these students! Ms. D :)

THANKFUL Thursday  Given the opportunity to teach. 7th and 8th grade  The future of the world is in my classroom.