So, I got a part-time teaching job for September. I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago, and it’s a very exciting time.

I wasn’t actually planning on going back to teaching, but I started getting the itch this past spring. That itch to do my old work, to use that part of my brain, to teach. I consider a lot of things my work these days, but this was my work. I missed it. I was good at it. I had a hard time with how I left it. I applied to only this one two-day-a-week position thinking if I get it, great. If I don’t, that’s that.

And I got it.

And I’m excited. Really, really excited.

This is my new space, and it needs a lot of work. It is the smallest library I’ve run with the smallest budget in the smallest school (pre-k to 6 with one class per grade!), but it sounds like the students really need to find that love of reading. The principal is new and incredibly supportive. I like to think I’m pretty good at helping kids find that spark, and I can’t wait to see if I can help. I think the last librarian did a lot with what she had, and I want to build on that.

I also love the challenge of organizing, updating, and personalizing a new space. It will take a while, and I’ll be using as much student help as I can get to do it. But it’ll be invigorating and satisfying.

I’m starting to gather supplies and see where I can get donations and free goodies. It’s a chance to get creative. This is my “before” picture; we’ll see where we are “after.”