Professional Goals
			The next of year teaching will be a challenging one for me.  I have become comfortable enough in my present position as a half-day kindergarten teacher to expand upon the curriculum and develop new ways to challenge my students.  I have developed nearly a dozen flash games that I have posted on my school website for students to use at home.  (A number of teachers as high as fourth grade, and from multiple school systems, use the games I have developed with their classes!)  And our annual movies are nearly Oscar worthy. I was this close to my dream of all day kindergarten but the budget has other plans in store for me...             My position is being cut to half-time and since my landlord doesn't want to cut my living costs in half I will be forced to bump one of my colleagues out of their full-time position, which I feel terrible about. It has been speculated but not recognized by the adminstration that I will be joining the 3rd grade team.  While I look forward to teaching some of my former students again, it has been nearly 8 years since I taught 3rd grade.  My professional goal is hence to make as smooth a transition possible to teaching 3rd grade.  I have already begun developing flash games with colleagues who teach 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade as well as the math specialist at our school to prepare me.  I am friendly with the third grade team already and once the budget is final and my position is formally announced, I plan to start attending their common planning times.  I have also formally announced my interest in obtaining a summer school position working with students either entering or exiting third grade to get re-acquainted with the 8 and 9 year old state of mind. This summer will also be spent re-familiarizing myself with the 3rd grade curriculum.
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