I have some crazy news to share today!
Guess what I am doing in the photo above????
Signing a contract!!!
That’s right, I am going back to teaching!
The preschool where the Happy Buddy attends had an opening for a PreK-2, two-day-a-week teaching position. After much prayer and counsel-seeking, the Happy Hubs and I feel it is just the right fit for our Happy Home.
While I have a TON of peace about it, I am TERRIFIED.
Ten 2-year-olds?!
Phew, I know what my experience with ONE 2-year-old was like and boy, do I feel like taking a nap already.
🙂
On the other hand, I already have every bulletin board and craft project planned out for the entire 2013-14 school year.
Ha!
More importantly, I am just so excited to love on those precious babies – show them Jesus every single day – and maybe, just maybe help them learn how to use a potty. 🙂
So, dear readers, any PreK-2 teachers out there?
This former 2nd-grade-teacher could use your advice!
-Julie
*I may or may not have had the Happy Hubby retake that photo above 6,000 times because he kept capturing a huge wad of my arm chub. #keepin’itreal*
I’m a preschool teacher’s aide and LOVE every minute of it! Two years ago, I was in w/ 2-year olds. It got crazy, but it was fun at the same time!! Now I’m w/ 16 3year olds …… That’s even more crazy!!!
I would love to be in ur classroom w/ all the love of Jesus and all ur fun projects and crafts!!! That is one LUCKY preschool and kids to have u as their teacher!!! ENJOY <3
How exciting! While I now teach high school, I once did a stint with the Wildwood Preschool. It was super fun, and group play can actually make it easier than being one-on-one. My youngest is 2 and loves Kindermusik with a passion, so I say bring out all of your musical talents! And when it gets crazy, throw some shaving cream on a table.
Julie, loved your post – congratulations! You and I have one thing in common: I taught 2nd grade for many years, then returned to teaching last year when I subbed for the 3-year-old class. It was definitely a stretch but if I can do that (at nearly age 70 then), you can most assuredly do it! I know that classroom and Wendy will be an awesome assistant! The teachers are the BEST – eager, willing, and anxious to help in any way. You’ll love it and they’ll love you!
I so enjoy your blog…I send it often to my daughters and used it a lot last Fall with the pre-school class. Still using it with my grandchildren!
I still sub occasionally so maybe I’ll see you there.
Love, Susan
Two days a week will be great for you, Julie! Exciting — and even more exciting for those mamas and kids that will be blessed by you, I know.
Yay!!! Congrats Julie! The children in your care are going to be so blessed! What an exciting new adventure for your family!
New here – but wanted to congratulate you on your new teaching position. I used to have a daycare for 16 years before becoming a nanny and I specialized in “infants, toddlers and 2’s” I didn’t have 10 of them but I did have 6. I found it went smoothly when they were all around the same age. I started them when they were infants or toddlers and they all grew up to be 2 and left, and then I would get my new batch. Fun times those were.
You’ll love it.
You are going to do AMAZING!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Dearest Julie,
I have no idea on how I stumbled across your blog or website or whatever in the hay all your posts are called. You hooked me immediately. Your love of life & children, positive attitude and beautiful personality shows itself in every post. The fun crafty ideas you find inspire the artistically deprived moms like me. You introduced me to Pinterest. Hmmm, haven’t decided if that’s good or bad?!? Lots of laundry could be getting done while I’m bouncing around looking at all the fun kid projects and teacher appreciation ideas, etc.
I was unexpectedly in the hospital for 2 months. I can’t explain how inspirational you were. Everyday, I’d sneak on my phone to check on HappyBaby’s progress in ICU. Your strength just blew me away. It was your strength that helped me dig deep for my strength to heal and get home to my little girl.
The reason I am writing this comment is to say thank you and CONGRATULATIONS to both you and to all the incredibly lucky 2 yr olds that will thrive from your love.
You’re the best!
Paula
Eeek! Excited for you 🙂
I love reading all your blogs! The Lord has blessed you to be such an encourager just by being real! So many of your blogs I feel like you are writing my story. My favorite was about going to church with our children and when I read i knew that the LI am the mother of 2 year old twin girls so needless to say I’m crazy most of the time. 🙂
I love reading all your blogs! The Lord has blessed you to be such an encourager just by being real! So many of your blogs I feel like you are writing my story. My favorite was about going to church with our children and when I read it i knew that the Lord had used you, a stranger, to encourage me because I had been going through the same thing. I am the mother of 2 year old twin girls so needless to say I’m crazy most of the time.
I can’t wait to see what you post on Pinterest because I teach 2 year olds at a Christian preschool too! So if you need some ideas I have tons of ideas on my Pinterest page.
Some very lucky little 2 yr olds await YOU! And, you’ll be close to your own boys as well. All’s right with your world.
Date: Tue, 21 May 2013 19:31:40 +0000 To: [email protected]
Ha ha ha! Love your comment on the photo retakes. You are so darn relatable- no wonder we all love you! Arm chub. That’s just funny stuff!
Oh I wish I had a two year old so s/he could have YOU for a teacher!! Those kids are gonna be sooooo lucky!! Congrats Julie!! So happy for you! Xoxo
Actually, Julie, if the class fills it caps at 12…. Also, YAYYYYYYYYY!
Congratulations!!!! How blessed you will be AND how blessed those “babies ” will be!
So excited to be your preschool neighbor! Congratulations!
I taught 2 1/2s for four years at a Christian preschool — that, and second grade, are the perfect ages of a child! One tip: it took me a year to realize my 2 1/2s didn’t really need crafts. (ie: a turkey with eyes, feathers, etc. that I cut out and they glued together). They needed to free paint — every day — with paintbrushes, their hands, at the table or the easel — sometimes using finger paints or even pudding. They also needed to play playdough, use stamping sticks and make “collages” with scraps of paper and glue sticks. Open ended art, singing, moving to music, cooking and lots of story reading made our fun days fly!
You will love it. I taught 16 2-year-olds for two years. I love it. It is hard and very busy work but very fulfilling. The peer pressure helps in the potty training (along with a little treat) goes a long way in training. And they are like little sponges when you tell them about Jesus. I go back each week and lead chapel. God’s blessings on your new endeavor. They are very blessed to have you!!!
Sent from my iPhone
Congratulations! You are going to be GREAT! xoxo
This is very exciting! You will be great! I am back in school for Early Childhood Education and I can’t wait to start teaching. Good luck to you!
Julie, I can’t tell you how EXCITED I am!!! This next year is going to be SO SO much fun!! 🙂 I can’t wait!! 🙂
Julie, I just saw this!! YAY!!!! Those little ones will be so blessed by you 🙂 I love that age, well I love most every age, so have fun and soak up all their love, crankiness, curiosity, energy and fun!! 🙂