There's Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself

Yesterday afternoon I got a call from our assistant principal saying that the principal wanted to meet with me this morning at 9:00. Even as a teacher, getting called the the principal's office is a scary thing. All night I thought about what it could be. Was I being fired for something I didn't know I did? Was I being moved to another grade? Was I being sued? Was I getting a student teacher? Was I going to have to teach a choir? These were some of my more logical thoughts...except the choir thing. As it turns out, one of them was right. I will now be a kindergarten teacher trapped in a third grade room. I don't mean trapped, per se, just that I'm going to have to shift my mindset some.
In all honesty, I'm nervous. I REALLY don't want to be under the tested umbrella and have to deal with all the mess that entails including massive amounts of paperwork, crazy stipulations, and lots of chewing out. Who knows? Maybe I'll be a good 3rd grade teacher. That's what I started out wanting to teach. Then again, I thought I was a good kindergarten teacher. Maybe I am, but I don't feel like it right now. I'm trying to convince myself that if I was bad at teaching they wouldn't move me to a tested area, but I'm not buying it.
I'm going to miss kids loving on me, painting, play doh, snacks, fun activities, memory books, etc... I know that 3rd grade isn't 4th (horrible year) and that I have 4 years of experience now. I'm not anticipating it being horrible, but I'm always optimistic at the beginning of the year. I know I'm going to have to adjust some things. Behavior plans, class rules, lesson plans, expectations. I'm going to have to learn long division again. BUT, this group of kids is my first group of kindergarten kids so I know at least half of them. And I've learned a lot in my Masters classes. I just wish I had more time to sit down with the curriculum and the other teacher and plan out what to do when. Me and Lee spent the summer mapping out our kindergarten curriculum and that's all out the window now.
Be looking for some posts about how things are different (good and bad) this coming year. And be praying.