how to have a good week at work...

For those of you who aren't aware, I got a job! working at a school about two minutes away from my house!  Nice!  It's part-time, which I am sooooo happy about, and I'm teaching Spanish to all the students grades 1-6.  I was pretty nervous to start (this last Monday was my first day) because I've been trained to teach secondary students and I love secondary students, but things have gone well so far!  It's been a lot of fun, and there have only been a couple of tricky classes, classroom management-wise.  I've been making some good friendships with both students and teachers.  Here's an excerpt from my journal last night that I wrote after a great first week...

I've been collecting nice things for when I have hard weeks, and here are a few that I heard this week.  Some were said to me and some I overheard as I was walking down the hallways... All of them made me feel so happy that this is my job :)

"You are so fun."

"I used to never like Spanish, but now I do."

"I think I understand you even better than our normal [English-speaking] teacher!" (Said by an English-speaking girl. This was quite possibly one of the best compliments ever.)

"Who's that?" "That's our new Spanish teacher.  She's really [fun]."  (Okay, I'm making up that adjective because she was walking away and I didn't hear what she said, but this quote came from a girl whose whole face lights up every time she sees me.)

"I love Spanish now. I LOVE SPANISH!"

"Thank you so much. That was an entirely new environment [from last year] [said twice]. *I* even understood some of what you were saying!" (Said by a teacher.)

"Spanish is fun now."

"You're so fun!" (Yes, I know I've already written that. A lot of people have said it this week:) 

"You're better than the last Spanish teacher."

Really.  Pretty much every time I walk through the halls, I get stopped by teachers or students to tell me how much fun Spanish has been and how much they're loving it.  Kids wave and say "Hola" everywhere I go, and teachers are completely backing me in my use of 100% Spanish in the classroom.  In fact, almost every kid in that school is convinced that I don't speak any English, which was my goal.  :)

THIS IS SO AWESOME!  This is completely why I wanted to be a Spanish teacher - to give children an exciting foundation that would make them want to keep studying Spanish.  I didn't ever really think about accomplishing that goal at an elementary level, but since about a month ago, I've realized that it might be even more doable here than at a secondary level because the students are still so excited about learning.  Woohoo!!  

(Although it kind of puts on the pressure for next week's lesson...  I hope people think Spanish is as fun next week!)

I'll be honest.  I don't know if I've ever felt so much that a job and I were perfect for each other.  Everytime I leave school, I'm in a good mood.  It's a constant constant reminder that Heavenly Father has put me in the right place.  I really feel like I (my training, my attitude, the Spirit, I'm not sure what exactly...) was really just exactly what this school needed.  Is that arrogant?  Oh well.  I feel it.  <3 comment-3--="" nbsp="">