Back in the Saddle!

You have to admit that today's market for educators is pretty wild.  Much depends on where you live, what you're certified for, and what you're willing to do or where you're willing to go to persue your craft.  The search can be maddening, but perseverance will win over despair every time.  This seems to be the time of year when districts are looking, and hiring, with haste, so get your name out there!  This brings me to the point of this blog.

Yesterday, after a month of looking, posting applications, revising the ol' CV, and all the other full-time tasks associated with the job search, I was hired in by a school system to teach my first love: middle school science.  After a decade (well, seven years) of teaching students at risk of not graduating, I'm back in the regular classroom.  I'm sure that those of you readers that have been in my position recall the relief, the shocky "I did it" feelings, then the scramble to get the loose ends tied up.  This is a time of new beginnings for all of us in the field at every level, from pre-k right on through to post-doctoral lecturer. Lets make the vow/intention/promise to make this the best year ever!

The other point behind starting these posts is to begin to fulfill a dream of mine.  The main philosophy that I've held since my first professional position (1990) is that a strong, effective middle grades program will so prepare a student for success in high school that the plethora of remediation/recovery programs can be reduced if not eliminated.  Having spent most of the last decade in these programs, I will say that they are needed, and, with the right leadership and right headspace within the faculty, work.  To those who work within these establishments: "GoGoGo!  Don't give up or let the kids give up!"

What I'd like to start here is an open forum for teachers of all levels and styles to discuss, plan, kvetch, and share what _really works_ in your classrooms.  We all know that there are no single solutions to any of the problems our kids face or the challenges of today's classrooms, so let's collaborate, jaw, and throw the pies around to see what sticks. 

My door, as always, is open....