[some nights]

 -fun.


IT HAPPENED!!!! Finally!! I am proud to say that after nearly three months of waiting, I have become an Illinois educator. I was offered a position as a Special Education teacher and math interventionist at, get this, a school a mere mile from our apartment!

Thrill! Swoon!

All excitement (temporarily) aside, I believe that this position will present a marvelous opportunity for me. I will be working in an intermediate elementary school, meaning they only serve 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. There are three general education teachers and one special education teacher for each grade level, which means the class sizes are extremely small and the students are very well taken care of. My role in this happy environment will be to provide some resource hours for these students in the form of small group literacy and math interventions, most of which will happen in the classroom. I will also have the unique opportunity of being the school "point person" for math. The common core standards are rolling out for math, and the school also just adopted a brand new math program that incorporates those standards to some extent. My job will be to fully integrate the common core standards with the new program, and essentially provide support and modeling for all the other teachers. I imagine that I will be doing quite a bit of research, receiving quite a bit of training, and providing tons of support by giving presentations, answering questions, and even going into classrooms and modelling with small groups. 

Eeeek!

I definitely feel like the bar has been set high, but I look forward to setting high standards and being an outstanding resource to all the teachers. And the best part is, I won't have to wait very long to plunge into the myriad of curricula and standards; the teachers start tomorrow!

Needless to say, I'm feeling very positive about the impending fall - a new, exciting teaching position, crisp cool weather, beautiful Midwest fall foliage and lakes, apple cider and fresh cinnamon-sugar donuts - the list is endless. I'm particularly excited about the prospect of wearing oversized, comfy sweaters and riding boots. I've definitely been Pinteresting up a storm in preparation. So here are some of my favorite looks for this glorious season.

I absolutely dig the chambray slouchy shirt with dark denim and boots.

This outfit has one of my favorite colors (green) and sweet feathery detail at the top makes it interesting.

 

I LOVE the camel and cream color combo, and the big comfy sweater is definitely going to be a theme for me this season.

 

That dress layered with tights, blazer, and a scarf is precious! I love the pop of mustard yellow. And of course, the boots.

If it's one thing I knew I had to have for fall, it was a pair of cognac riding boots. They're happily sitting in my closet, just tempting me. I'm waiting for that first 60 degree day, when it will finally be acceptable to wear them outside, instead of just tromping around my apartment! Now, to pick up a chambray shirt....

Ah well, the closet will have to wait. My husband is flying back from Minneapolis as I type, and it is time for me to pick him up from the airport. 

Cheers!