..in my brain.  It’s the middle of summer vacation and I am already starting to get antsy about this upcoming year.  My third year in the classroom feels like my first year, since I am changing grade levels.   I pretty much have to start from scratch, but I’ve built a great little network of upper elementary teachers and won’t need to reinvent the wheel.  I’m going to start planning with them soon, but I’m still a little weary about being in a testing grade.  I had it good in 2nd grade:  my biggest worry during testing time was to figure out what to do during indoor recess.  Of course, I get to change grades during the year when STAAR actually counts for something…great.  I know I shouldn’t doubt my ability to teach upper level content, but there’s just something about basing a year’s worth of instruction on test results that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

On another note, it’s been almost two years to the day that we moved to Texas.  I still miss my family in Florida and wish I could get back there more often, but airfare from SA is so incredibly expensive…and I have to buy three tickets AND pay to board our dog.  Grown-up life is complicated.  At least we’ll be having a mini-family reunion at the end of July at my niece’s wedding, so that’s something I’m looking forward to.

It’s also been two years since I finished Institute.  The 2012s are finishing up Houston Institute this week – I can’t believe time went by so quickly. I still can’t believe I’m an alum either.  I swear these two years went by so quickly.  That being said, I wish I had been more involved with TFA, but being a non-traditional CM, I never really felt encouraged to participate in things like applying for Institute Staff, etc.  It was like I was always on the fringes, but never really pushed to pursue a more active role.  I wonder if other non-trad CMs feel/felt the same way I do.