Go team!

I was on my way to bed (10 minutes ago), when I decided to check my email one more time. That led to checking my favorite blog, which led me to my own blogger dashboard where I realized I was about to fail at my goal of at least one post per week. So, instead of reading, I'm writing. A fair trade, I think.

After my last post, some of you might be wondering how this past week went. I'm happy to report that it went well. The weather was fall-like, and both the students and I have begun to sink into a routine. I always seem to forget that the beginning of school, though exciting, is also terribly stressful. Compound the normal amount of back-to-school stress with a brand new schedule, a brand new freshman team structure, and a brand new curriculum, and you could potentially be asking for disaster. I, however, have discovered (though I already knew this) that I am one lucky girl. I have the best group of people to work with, and it makes all of those very stressful things seem much less daunting.

When our administration chose the teachers they wanted to man the two freshman teams, I truly believe they hand-picked us. There are around 40 teachers at my school, and the 8 manning these teams are pretty phenomenal when put together. I think that all of the staff at my school offer amazing things to students, but the 8 of us working on the teams compliment one another in great ways. Not only did they get a great spread for the whole thing, but they split us up perfectly. Here's a little run-down for you ...

Team T is very logical, very detail-oriented, and very flexibly-rigid (in a way that works well with the students). I guess, if I were trying to portray this team with a person I would choose Tom Selleck. Strong and sturdy, consistent, and super dependable, all while being approachable and willing to compromise.

Team O (my team) is not logical (in a good way), we pay attention to the details, and we are flexible (in a way that works well with the students). For this team, I would have to choose someone like John Travolta. Really a big teddy bear, but with a tough exterior. Able to be firm, but also able to turn into jello if it's called for.

I love my team. The team I'm on, both teams, and the other staff involved in our adventure (special ed teacher, literacy coach, admins). I feel very supported, and I know that when I have a problem with a student or parent, the others will be there to back me up. We are able to use one another as sounding boards to get ideas, share ideas, or just rant for a minute. It's different for me this year. I don't feel like I'm going at my teaching alone. In fact, I feel more supported than ever. Not only do I have a wonderful team on my side, but I have a fabulous friend and colleague in the English teacher on the other team.

She and I plan together. Check in on student progress together. Share a portable. And we generally have a great time too. We worked for countless hours last year planning a new curriculum, and to see it come to fruition is exciting and scary. Ms. W and I compliment one another really well. Instead of both of us being really good separately, we're AMAZING together.

I could keep going on this post and list all of the ways that I'm benefiting from our freshman teams, but it really boils down to this:

No teacher, or person, should have to go at school, or life, alone. We can be great alone, or extraordinary together. I can't imagine putting myself into a box, closing the door, and shutting everyone out. How lonely and sad. So, I choose extraordinary. Every time.