Please help... Need some supportive thoughts

[tammylsmith]

I've been working for two years from home with dh doing mobile app developing and taking care of our two little ones. Well this summer has been a heart breakingly slow one, with large projects put on the table, only to ultimately dissolve away, leaving us with no money as we used our retirement and savings to try to float things. It became painfully evident that I needed to get back into the work force (I'm a teacher) and so I got some resumes out there, and was very lucky to land a couple of interviews. I don't want to sound spoiled, but I did at least end up with a job offer.... teaching middle school in a more urban district an hour away. I will be teaching computers, and the principal is enthusiastic about me being as creative as I want with the curriculum. I could teach animation and filmmaking, web design, etc.... things I enjoy doing and think I would love teaching. It's just that this is all so new to me. My undergrad background is in design, but my teaching experience is in general elementary (4th), in the suburbs. I feel so overwhelmed I can barely speak about the job without tearing up. I had such high hopes for our little business from home, and to have to leave the cocoon to go so far away is really hard for me. No other doors seem to be opening right now, and we are at the end of our financial rope. Dh could go work in NYC, but then we'd never see him, and there would be no hope of ever reviving the company. I will have to accept or decline this job sometime today, so I feel like I'm under crushing pressure right now. Taking the job would be a tremendous financial relief, but I'm afraid of all of the unknowns. Will I love or hate working in the pressure of an urban(ish) school... can I handle middle school? This is a whole new subject area for me (granted, this is the one that gives me the least trouble.... I don't want to go back to general elementary. I'm excited about the subject, just unsure of how it will be different. Please help with some encouraging words... I really could use them! :( 

[CI Mama]

It is always overwhelming and difficult to walk through a door into the unknown. And it is hard to let go of something that you've nurtured and cared for.

It sounds like this job comes with a lot of exciting opportunity. Learning new things is good! You may find new passions, develop new skills, meet great people. There's a lot to embrace.

When I've faced big career decisions, I've always told myself "in a year, if this really isn't working, I'll re-evaluate." That way I don't feel like I'm stuck for life. And a year feels like enough time to really know how it's going.

Good luck & keep us posted!

[Super~Single~Mama]

I would do it!!  It's scary to embark on new adventures sometimes, but you never know where this would lead - and you would be keeping your family afloat financially - which is really important!!

[JoyFilled]

I work in computers too.  And so does my DH.  And I use to teach too.

My friend teaches computers and media and loves it.  I think that there is so much you can do with it.  And middle school kids love computers.  You can teach them power point and putting things to music.  There are typing websites/games you can use.  You could get a team of students together to make videos for assembles.  You will probably be the coolest teacher.  If I went back I would love to teach this.

Also, remember to have some sort of spy ware on their computers so you can see what they are doing while you teach.   There are a variety of programs for this.

[hildare]

there's not much difference between a 4th grader and a 6th or 7th grader (though i believe some sort of life altering change happens to a middle schooler that summer between 7th and 8th grade.

i worked in a middle school for 3 years and an elementary for 2.  i really appreciated and loved the middle school so much more.  the school culture (and i hear from other people that this is typically the case) is much different.  i did not enjoy the elementary school environment very much.

it's going to be GREAT for you to come up with creative ways to teach computers. 

i am biased in my recommendation, but here's my advice:  see if you can find out who the media specialist is at your school and contact him or her.  hopefully that person will not be the rare jerk in that profession and will be VERY interested in talking to you, giving you tips, and working with you.  for the tech teacher, the media specialist is a very good friend to have.  plus we tend to be OVERLY friendly and helpful.  you really can't go wrong with just introducing yourself that way first.  ;) 

good luck, i bet you will LOVE the middle school.