So . . . I will no longer be writing about the mixed up middle of sitting in between leaving and going somewhere. Somewhere is now a where. A known where. I accepted a new position at a new school for the fall!
New students. New community. New families. New staff. New school. New room. New grade. And me. So kind of a new me I suppose. Because I don’t think it is possible to remain the same with all of that new. And oh, how I welcome this! I welcome all of the new learning, the new opportunities and the new relationships.
Mostly I welcome the chance to feel safe. Safe to be brave. Safe to ask questions. Safe to use my voice.
This new place felt like a fit as soon as I walked up the steps and into the building. It felt like it might let me fly as soon as I stepped out the door.
More details to come – but for now I will share that in September I will be teaching a Grade 4/5 class at a school not even a 15 minute walk from my house.
Prepare, blog readers, there are posts coming . . . Posts about setting up a new classroom, posts about organizing an intermediate classroom library and posts about the new curriculum. Not because I have it all figured out but because I plan to write to process, think, wonder and maybe, figure out something. There will be posts about all I don’t yet know.
I plan to move into and dig around and uproot the wisdom and brilliance of some educators with blogs about their intermediate classrooms. Julie Colando, Jessica Lifshitz, Julianne Harmatz you may feel my presence.
Today I celebrate all of this new. I celebrate how happy I am. I celebrate how light I feel.
Thank you to Ruth Ayres and the #celebratelu community!
Being part of a community that regularly shares gratitude and celebrations truly transforms my weeks.
There's a Book for That 
Congratulations! Teaching 4/5 students were some of my best teaching memories.
I am really looking forward to working with this age group!
CONGRATULATIONS!! I am so excited for you, and can’t wait to follow along with you on this exciting new adventure. Sometimes a change is just what you need to refresh your soul and reignite your passion for learning and teaching.
This change is needed for a variety of reasons!
Can’t wait to read about your journey. New beginnings, looking forward, what an inspiration you are to so many!
Thank you Faige. It will be a big learning year!
Exciting news. Congratulations! I look forward to your posts. I know that your thinking and reflecting will inspire all your readers.
Hopefully inspire them to chime in! I have much to learn 🙂
A celebration is in order! A truly positive, challenging summer and fall ahead…and on and on. Life is good.
Love May
It certainly is!
My heart is happy for you!
My heart is happy too!
I’m glad to hear this. Congrats on your new job!
Thank you Earl!
So happy to read this celebration today! Congratulations! I look forward to reading about the journey of this new grade. You will rock it!
Thanks Elsie! I sure hope so. Excited to try!
Congrats my friend! Your new school will soon discover how lucky they are to have you.
Very, very kind. I feel very lucky.
Oh Carrie, what a change for you! All goodness! I can’t wait to read about your new journey!
Thank you Shari! I have a lot of positive feelings about this!
Can’t wait to talk middle grade learning with you! You will love it and they will love you.
I certainly hope so! And I too can’t wait to connect more to teachers like you already teaching middle grade students.
Congratulations! Grades 4/5, nice! Have a great summer and have fun planning your new adventure!
I already am – having fun dreaming and planning!
Great news! I could sense the lightness you feel throughout this post. Can’t wait to learn all about your new journey and watch you step into this new setting.
Thanks Ramona!
So so happy for you! Can’t wait to hear more!!!
Best,
Cheryl
Thank you Cheryl! Lots of different ahead. But in safe waters so all will be okay.
I agree with Ramona, the lightness, the freedom, the bravery, the happy are all there in your words. I am so happy for you and can’t wait for you to share your “new you”!
Many thanks Leigh Anne. I appreciate all of your support!
Congratulations Carrie!!! I’m so happy for you! Can’t wait to read your post to come. Enjoy!
Lora, thank you! There is going to be a lot of new learning for me but I am excited!
Congratulations! I will be writing similar blog posts as I move from a JH literacy coach position to a 3rd grade classroom position. Good luck!
I LOVE Grade 3! Congratulations Mindi
Sounds like a wonderful new beginning, full of excitement. I wish you all the best in your new placement. How fortunate your new students are to have you.
So kind of you to say Norah!
Fourth grade is great! You will be in awe of what the students already know and can do, and even more in awe by what you can accomplish. Your 4/5 split will be different, but a great time! Bon courage!
Thank you! I am growing more and more excited!
You will love it! The sense of humor, the reading and writing, all the art to go along with it…you will wonder why this didn’t happen sooner ;–)
Before becoming a librarian, I taught a mixed-age 4th/5th grade class for several years. I absolutely loved it! I look forward to reading about your experiences and especially all of the books you use in class.
I can’t wait for the different ways I will be using books with this age group!
Congratulations, Carrie! Your new opportunity sounds like a grand adventure full of sunshine and light! Enjoy every moment!
I plan to! Even the move is giving me lots to mull over and eagerly anticipate!
I was a classroom teacher for 32 years before I was a writer. Nothing beats the start of a new year, new class, new challenges. Glad you’ll be in a new setting close to your own home.
Thank you Ann. The close to home adds a whole other layer of appeal!
You will love 4th/5th grade! Congrats! I have many fond memories of teaching 4th grade for 6 years!
Thanks for the encouragement Niki! I think it’s going to be really a great year for me.
Congratulations, Carrie! I’ll be following your journey, and I know I’ll be amazed by how you inspire another group of students to become readers, learners, and a family.
Susan, you are very kind! Thank you!
Congratulations, Carrie! You will so enjoy Intermediate readers, with all their quirks, personalities, and lovely lovely characters.
I am truly so very excited!