First Grade, huh?

I love teaching and I do it for the money...Just Kidding.  But I do love teaching and have ever since I began my career 8 years ago.  I have taught 2nd grade for 6 years and 3rd grade for 1 year.  My journey as a teacher has been exciting, scary, frustrating, rewarding, but most of all fun.   Each year offers its own set of challenges.  I remember being so overwhelmed my first year wondering if I was going to make it to Spring Break, crying when I had to transfer schools for the third year in a row (love those budget cuts!), and thinking that I should be committed for attempting National Boards and planning a wedding in the same year.  With each challenge I was dramatic, complained A LOT, and questioned my decision to become a teacher.  But I not only survived, but came out a better, stronger teacher.  Today I was presented with a new challenge.  I received a call from my principal asking me to move grade levels.  My first response was NO!!!  I have already been up to school and set up my classroom for 2nd grade.  Not only would I bee changing grade levels, but rooms as well.  The idea of moving 7 years worth of stuff one room down the hall is very frustrating.  Not to be one to take things calmly I made my way up to school to ask one question...Why?  I was told that  my principal believed that I could handle the challenge and make the transition smoothly.  He must not know me very well because I do not do well with change.  I smiled and told him the truth.  I will work just as hard in whatever grade I teach, I am grateful to have a job, I will come to work with a smile on my face, but I am not happy.  I walked down to my new room and took a deep breath as my new challenge sunk in.  Yes, I am sad to leave 2nd grade because I loved teaching 2nd grade.  But I was placed at this school, with these coworkers and students, and, now, placed in this grade level for a reason.  This is just another challenge in my career that will make me a stronger, more effective teacher.  I am sure that when I retire on my island with all the money I have made as a teacher I will laugh at myself for being nervous about this challenge.  I will be spending the next few days studying, planning, and thinking about the upcoming year.  And I know that in a few years this challenge will be just another part of my teacher journey that made me into a better teacher.