Earlier this summer, when I was writing curriculum at Trinity I was asked my opinion about private and public schools. I have experience teaching at both of the schools I went to before Trinity, one public and one private so I didn't know how to answer exactly. I felt judged for being an advocate of private school for some students. It was the best decision for me.
Let's rewind. After I left Boerne at the beginning of the 2015-2016 and took some time off from teaching, I had a breakdown. It was about mid-September when that happened and I realized I needed to be around people. That led me to join the Impact group at Oak Hills. About a month and a half later, after interviewing for a second grade position and getting rejected, I decided to join the Children's Ministry team at my church. Almost two years later, I love working with our littlest members and I've learned to work with pre-schoolers. They are so much fun! Working at Oak Hills brought me back to my faith and I realized how much I missed being in that kind of school environment (I had 7 years of Daily Chapel and knew all the teachers and families at my school.)
Come December 2015, I began subbing in Northside ISD and at St. Thomas Episcopal School. As a former Episcopal Diocese of West Texas private school student (I am incredibly grateful for my TMI experiences), I immediately saw the difference between private and public school. I knew the private sector was where I wanted to be. The beginning of the 2015-16 was extremely stressful with my teammates telling me what to teach. I didn't feel like I could be creative in my lessons.
That being said, the teachers from my elementary cohort at Trinity are some of the most passionate educators I know. They pour their hearts into the classrooms and are doing amazing things for their students. I love meeting up with them monthly to hear what they are doing, as well as learn from them. I also love following their Instagrams and Pinterests. The system also offers wide ranges of activities for kids. I believe that every child deserves an education and an amazing teacher, and thousands of teachers are doing that for kids. I will never criticize the public school system; I just knew it wasn't for me.
Fast forward to August 2017. About a week and a half ago, I received an email from the principal at Saint Anthony Catholic School to interview for a fifth grade math, science and social studies and also a fourth grade math, science and religion position. I must say, I was a little hesitant about math. And science. I know I can do it, but I have always been the arts and English girl. I loved inspiring my sixth graders to love writing. As soon as I had the opportunity, I immediately visited the school website. When I learned about the rich history, the opportunities for students as young as second grade to participate in choir, the technology available, I became super excited. After my almost hour long interview, I had fallen in love with the campus. I was also thrilled about it's proximity to Trinity, the university I love dearly.
After a weekend of stressing out and teaching my precious two and three year olds at church and a day spent almost wanting to give up, I received a call offering me the opportunity to teach 5th grade. I was so thrilled to be going to a school I love without the pressure of math and science STAAR (I'll teach a STAAR subject, but I don't want to. But really, who actually does?) I guess I belong in the upper elementary grades. I came into the MAT program wanting to teach kindergarten. That night, I went home and began unpacking and moving boxes of my classroom things into my car to take Tuesday for inservice. I still am in the process of moving things in. My classroom is on the second floor of the building so it took some time.
After moving boxes into my car, I began inservice at 7:30 Tuesday morning. I immediately became friends with the fourth grade math, science and religion teacher, who was also hired Monday night. After meetings about dyslexia, benefits, etc, I had some time to start moving boxes in. I did not get substantial work in my classroom done until Thursday. After only five days at Saint Anthony, I have grown to love this community and my team. I should say that there are only two fifth grade teachers and this is her first year at Saint Anthony and as Teacher of Record, although she's been working in schools for many years. I have become more excited about teaching social studies, science and math and think about all the things I want to do. I also had the chance to meet most of my fifth graders and their families yesterday afternoon, and feel blessed to be part of a supportive, loving community.
I can't wait to share what I'm doing with my iPads and Smartboard in my classroom this year! Stay tuned!
Also, here are some pictures of my classroom. It's been a lot of work, but I'm so happy with how colorful, the room is.
-Elle
Let's rewind. After I left Boerne at the beginning of the 2015-2016 and took some time off from teaching, I had a breakdown. It was about mid-September when that happened and I realized I needed to be around people. That led me to join the Impact group at Oak Hills. About a month and a half later, after interviewing for a second grade position and getting rejected, I decided to join the Children's Ministry team at my church. Almost two years later, I love working with our littlest members and I've learned to work with pre-schoolers. They are so much fun! Working at Oak Hills brought me back to my faith and I realized how much I missed being in that kind of school environment (I had 7 years of Daily Chapel and knew all the teachers and families at my school.)
Come December 2015, I began subbing in Northside ISD and at St. Thomas Episcopal School. As a former Episcopal Diocese of West Texas private school student (I am incredibly grateful for my TMI experiences), I immediately saw the difference between private and public school. I knew the private sector was where I wanted to be. The beginning of the 2015-16 was extremely stressful with my teammates telling me what to teach. I didn't feel like I could be creative in my lessons.
That being said, the teachers from my elementary cohort at Trinity are some of the most passionate educators I know. They pour their hearts into the classrooms and are doing amazing things for their students. I love meeting up with them monthly to hear what they are doing, as well as learn from them. I also love following their Instagrams and Pinterests. The system also offers wide ranges of activities for kids. I believe that every child deserves an education and an amazing teacher, and thousands of teachers are doing that for kids. I will never criticize the public school system; I just knew it wasn't for me.
Fast forward to August 2017. About a week and a half ago, I received an email from the principal at Saint Anthony Catholic School to interview for a fifth grade math, science and social studies and also a fourth grade math, science and religion position. I must say, I was a little hesitant about math. And science. I know I can do it, but I have always been the arts and English girl. I loved inspiring my sixth graders to love writing. As soon as I had the opportunity, I immediately visited the school website. When I learned about the rich history, the opportunities for students as young as second grade to participate in choir, the technology available, I became super excited. After my almost hour long interview, I had fallen in love with the campus. I was also thrilled about it's proximity to Trinity, the university I love dearly.
After a weekend of stressing out and teaching my precious two and three year olds at church and a day spent almost wanting to give up, I received a call offering me the opportunity to teach 5th grade. I was so thrilled to be going to a school I love without the pressure of math and science STAAR (I'll teach a STAAR subject, but I don't want to. But really, who actually does?) I guess I belong in the upper elementary grades. I came into the MAT program wanting to teach kindergarten. That night, I went home and began unpacking and moving boxes of my classroom things into my car to take Tuesday for inservice. I still am in the process of moving things in. My classroom is on the second floor of the building so it took some time.
After moving boxes into my car, I began inservice at 7:30 Tuesday morning. I immediately became friends with the fourth grade math, science and religion teacher, who was also hired Monday night. After meetings about dyslexia, benefits, etc, I had some time to start moving boxes in. I did not get substantial work in my classroom done until Thursday. After only five days at Saint Anthony, I have grown to love this community and my team. I should say that there are only two fifth grade teachers and this is her first year at Saint Anthony and as Teacher of Record, although she's been working in schools for many years. I have become more excited about teaching social studies, science and math and think about all the things I want to do. I also had the chance to meet most of my fifth graders and their families yesterday afternoon, and feel blessed to be part of a supportive, loving community.
I can't wait to share what I'm doing with my iPads and Smartboard in my classroom this year! Stay tuned!
Also, here are some pictures of my classroom. It's been a lot of work, but I'm so happy with how colorful, the room is.
-Elle
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