I finished up my first teaching experience at North Miami Beach High the first week of June. My thoughts were bitter-sweet as I sad goodbye to 175 students I came to love. My anxiety is now that next year I will have 7 periods of rotten-mean kids, but I think every teacher develops that fear while she has nothing to do. I loved teaching! I think it was my call in life, I only wish that I had planned for it sooner- still I am grateful for the 6 months behind me, and for an upcoming school year at North Miami Beach. My kids made me laugh every day! - I only cried one time during those 6 months! I was proud of that. Teaching is the greatest job- very difficult, rewarding, fun, interactive-- That's not to say it's not A LOT of work! Trying to meet the needs of such a diverse group of learners is definitely a challenge, but I tried my best to plan interactive lessons and projects. My greatest days always included some sort of one-on-one student-teacher interaction, (whether it be me helping them on a piece of writing, or discussing ideas for a project ) those days make it all worth it. I am looking forward to starting again in the fall.
Post-Teaching: As soon as I finished up the school year I immediately started into a two week course for part of my certification. I have gained a new appreciation for educators all over! The amount of information they are expected to be expert on is infinite. The class covered Reading teaching strategies, research based-practices as well as identifying reading learning disabilities. I was blessed to be in the midst of 20 very motivated and highly-educated educators. I feel like I learned so much, and gained new perspective of my role in the classroom.
Utah Trip: Two days after my class ended I packed up and headed for Utah for 10 days! My little sister got married to Mitchell Reid! What a cutie- we are so happy for them. Their wedding was beautiful and they are a fantastic couple. Tyler joined me in Utah a few days later (on his birthday- poor thing was faced with two delayed flights!) We did the family thing and the wedding thing, AND we got to meet our new niece Allie!- so cute!!!
Tyler's Classes: In the mean-time, Tyler has been sooo busy with school. He is wrapping up his final semester of classes. In the fall he begins his first rotation. We are both looking forward to the lighter study load, and I know Tyler is really looking forward to being out of the classroom and working with patients!
Here are some end-of-year photos of my funny kids! Some of them try to look tough- don't be fooled, they are sweethearts!
Trevis- He was a 9th grade Reading re-taker,- for the 3rd time! He finally passed the class! He liked to break out into old school R&B songs. 
Christopher and Taquoerin: wanna-be gangsters
Craig and Keith- BIG sweethearts! Loved these guys.
A few students from my wonderful 4th period! The best group of kids- I loved this period
Pictures from the trip to Utah- We kidnapped my little sister and turned her into the "bride fairy" We made up for the humiliation we caused by pampering her with a pedicure and a facial.
This is Jack- if you can't tell, he is almost two. He is telling me "NO" to getting his picture taken.
My sisters!
