Guess Who's Celebrating 20??!!!!

Today I began my 20th year of teaching. I still can NOT believe that statement. Seriously, how did that happen? 

I taught kindergarten for two years at the school I actually went to kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. I didn't skip 1st and 2nd, the military moved us to a different school in the same district. 

Then I moved schools and taught kinder for one more year. 

The following year, I was a Math Coach at a different school in my district. This began my love of teaching MATH. 

I taught first for three more years, moved districts and taught first for another three years. 

I moved again, and taught first grade four more years. 

A great opportunity came up at my school and I became a Math interventionist for 2nd-5th grade. It was a super great job! I spent seven years at that school. I got married and had two babies with those women. Leaving was really hard. 

During that time, my family moved and commuting was too hard. We live in a small town, elementary positions were hard to come by. I interviewed with two of the three principals for elementary even though they had no positions. One of them passed me on to the middle school principal. 

I was scared to death, but took the job for 6th grade math because I really want in the district. 

It was the absolute worst year of my teaching career. I pretty much cried daily and counted the days until the end of school. That started the fourth week of school. It was no secret that I would NOT be returning. I always joke that that was the year I started drinking wine on weekdays. It's true though. 

I did interview with a local elementary school that next summer and really thought I was getting the position. The principal and I had been talking about it all year. Like I said, not a secret to anyone. 

But, I didn't get it and I was crushed, mad. 

My current principal called and offered me department head which is so comical after the year I had just completed. But, in all honesty, I was the only option. We had so many math teachers bolt, I won it by default. 

I had started stalking blogs that spring and started this blog during the summer. It helped me adjust MY attitude and I started last year with a MUCH different perspective. The year was FANTASTIC! 

When the principal I had interviewed with the two previous years approached me about finally coming to her school for this upcoming school year, I very quickly and confidently said, "Nope, I plan to stay at the middle school." This was in APRIL!!! 

My third year in middle school, and MY CHOICE!!!

 I am ready and excited to continue this journey. Who knows what will happen next? 

And since you made it this far and allowed to walk down memory lane, you deserve a FREEBIE!!! 

Too busy for a giveaway so I decided EVERYONE'S WINS!!!

Leave a comment and tell me how many years you have been teaching. You can tell what you are starting this year or have completed, your choice! 

Then, choose one of these products and I will send it to you for FREE! 

Be sure to leave your email! 

Choice 1: 

Test Taking Strategies: 

Choice 2:

Hook the Shark: Equivalent Fractions card game match

If neither of these interest you, please visit my TpT store and let me know what would work better for you. I want everyone to celebrate! 

I will hold this freebie giveaway until Saturday, August 31st.