First Day of School

Wow! The first day of school was an exciting day for the students and the teachers! I had butterflies in my stomach as I entered the classroom. I took a look around at the work that we had accomplished over the last 2 days. The desks were all lined up; all of the books and materials were in their respective places. Yes, we were ready!

My observation revealed that I was unprepared for the amount of supplies that arrived on the first day. Many of those supplies were delivered by the parents and not the students. Of course each of those parents wanted to speak to the teacher (who most had already met during the open house, just 2 days before). I frantically unpacked each plastic grocery bag and carefully sorted composition books, crayons, notebook paper, boxes of pencils and tissues, 3-ring binders, glue sticks and bottles of hand sanitizer into organized piles. I now know that 24 students times "classroom supplies" equals the top area of 7 student desks! Luckily for us, we had planned for the students to spend the first hour on the carpet (not at a desk); which gave me time to find a better place for all of those materials. Because of this observation, I am lead to prepare a better method of collecting supplies in my classroom. I'm thinking a labeled tote for each item, in an assembly line format, would ease the chaos of that collection process. This is significant because many teachers face this day without a second set of helping hands!

In between my sorting job, I was recording transportation changes. "I'll pick "Billy" up today, since it's the first day of school". It sounds so simple. However, it's a transportation nightmare for a teacher who has already prepared the list of "car riders" and "bus takers"! I have since concluded that an "adult volunteer" in the classroom on the first day of school is an absolute necessity.

I know that the first day is a hard for the students as well. Most are still in "summer vacation mode". Their routines and sleep and eat habits have been disrupted. I learned that it is important to establish the ground rules on the first day, from the first hour. Schedules have to be followed and manners have to be re-taught. I believe the importance of these first day activities lead the way to a successful school year. We spent a significant amount of time discussing and practicing the daily procedures. Math and Comprehension assessments were completed and ability groups were defined so that relevant instruction could begin.

I focused on establishing who I was in the classroom; as a person of authority, to be respected and obeyed; because very soon, I will be the teacher!

New Beginnings.......

On one insignificant Wednesday morning in March, 51 years ago, I was born. Ironically, on a Wednesday morning, 6 days from now, I will embark on a new beginning! It took a huge amount of courage and a giant leap of faith,(to some...a decision made by an insane woman in the midst of a mid-life crisis) to leave a good paying and comfortable job to become an unemployed teacher! The University really should consider giving "students" my age, CPL (credit for prior learning) for the real life teaching I have already done...raising 2 children, teaching many lessons in VBS and SS, and many, many Cub Scout activities and Boy Scout Merit Badges. However, the thought of having a classroom of my own, without the experience of this student internship semester, scares me to death! So, I understand the importance of this next step. Even now, I begin to doubt my own ability! How do you get started? What sentence comes after "Welcome to my class"? How do you decide what to teach when? Do you start on page 1 of the book (or is there a book!)? I've spent the last 2 years in methods courses learning "how to...", but for some reason, can't remember a single thing! It's like singing a solo and forgetting the first word....but I know it'll come to me, as soon as the music starts! (or at least I hope it will)
OK....so now that the panic attack is behind me....fasten your seat belts because the next 16 weeks is going to be an incredible ride! The first 8 weeks will be fast and furious as I work deligently on the 21st century teaching project...as it is due, the day before I leave for Kuwait! The last 6 weeks will be spent in a foreign country in an all boy classroom of ELL students! What an adventure!! What an opportunity!! Stay tuned.....here we go..........