#realtalk #periscope

My friend Trina over at The Ordinary to Extraordinary Classroom did an amazing post about this new-ish phenomenon called Periscope. I say new-ish because I've been on this site since late April and did my first scope in May (on my non-teacher account). But it's taken off because of the TpT convention in Vegas. It's pretty neat to see the growth of it, and the amazing things that it can do. I've already met some interesting people and have found my #SpEdTribe because of it. But that's not what this post is really about. This post is about the real talk hashtag that persicope created. I'm sure that people were using this hashtag before, or some variation of it, but I found it on periscope so there.

I have been a SpEd teacher for a WHOLE year. I know right?! I must know everything after a year. Ha! Not even close, but, moving on. Before that I worked in a really unique co-teach program as a PPCD para for 6 years. For the last couple years the pre-k teacher was taking classes to become a counselor. All of last year she worked her tail off to get closer to making her dream a reality. As a her friend, (and someone who wanted back into that program that I held so dear) I even encouraged her to send out resumes and go on interviews. I encouraged her to keep trying and reminded her how much she loved her current job, just in case her interviews didn't turn into anything.

I had all but forgotten about the prospect of her possibly leaving. I mean, it is mid July at this point, after all. Last week I got a call that she had been offered a counseling job at a high school. At that point the wheels in my head started turning. Could I go back to the classroom that I loved so much? Did I want to leave SpEd and teach pre-k? Would they even want me back in that room in a new role?

Shortly after that phone call, our principal sent out an email about her leaving and wanted to know if anyone was interested in taking over as pre-k teacher, (yes, yes I did!) and that she would be interviewing for the job the following week. Wait. I had to interview for it? Really? I know this program like the back of my hand, AND I'm qualified to teach GenEd. AND I already work for you?! Okay, whatever, sure I'll interview. So I emailed her and said I would like to be considered for the job. So I interviewed. And it was... pretty awkward. I could have stayed home and the interview committee would have been able to answer the questions for me. As I walked out to my car, I just knew that my principal wasn't going to let me go back "home."

I was right. No going back for me. So, I am now back where I was a year ago. Which is, not a bad thing. In fact, I'm happy where I was/am. I love my littles in SUCCESS. I love my two wonderful paras. I love my classroom. That doesn't mean that I'm not disappointed. I spent 6 years married to the people in the classroom that I wanted to go back to.

Nobody likes rejection. So of course I felt bad being told no. But then I had some wonderful people tell me that I was really good and made such great progress in my room that they thought I was told no, because I would be hard to be replaced. And just like that, the anger evaporated. (Hey, disappointment, can you follow anger out the door, please?) Thanks friends!

So now I'm back in the game of planning and creating for my special little's so we can have so much Fun in SUCCESS this year!! (I had too, Sorry. I won't let it happen again.)

Also, if you feel so inclined, follow me on social media! I'll be scoping about my homework folder and behavior chart soonish! (I gotta go type up some notes for that, since it just came to me as I'm typing this!)