One more year!

I signed my contract yesterday for one more year teaching in Bethel, Alaska! I am really excited about this for several reasons....

The kids that I had as tenth graders last year will be seniors next year and I will get to see them graduate. I've never been able to see any of my students graduate before as a class.

The kids that I had as 8th graders last year will be sophomores next year, which means that I will get most of them again for Biology. I think it will be so fun and interesting to have those kids as students again after a year of growth and maturity. I am really looking forward to this.

I feel like every year I am a better teacher and I really think that I will be even better next year. I have really made some great strides this year in my teaching and have implemented some very successful teaching strategies. BUT a good teacher is never done improving and there are so many more things that I want to do next year to make my classes even better. This is the first year that I have taught the same classes two years in a row. I have been amazed at how satisfying it is to see how I have changed my teaching methods from one year to the next and how that pays off in the motivation and achievement of my students. It really makes me think that where ever I end up next is where I will probably want to stay for some time, if not for the rest of my career.

The money is great! I make twice as much as I would be if I were still teaching in Ohio. We got a nice raise with our new contract this year and we'll get a pretty nice signing bonus in August.

AND...I will get to have Avery as my student next year which may turn out good or not so good, but either way will be interesting.

Avery and I are established here as part of the community. We have friends. We are involved in activities around the community. We know the ins and outs of living here.

We are finally experiencing some of the things I envisioned when moving here. The winter camping, visiting villages, seeing other parts of Alaska, etc.

Another amazing summer! I booked my ticket to Vegas last week and I cant wait to spend the summer in the sun. I cant wait to see my friends and part of my family. I cant wait to wear sandals and tank tops and get a tan!