Teaching Chaos

It feels as if I have never left, a very good feeling. I didn't realize how chaotic the first three days of school can be. For students, it can be a bit boring because teachers are getting to know names, going over syllabi, creating lessons that are easy for new students to catch onto if they switch classes. But as a first year teacher who found out she will be teaching a couple days before school starts adds to the chaos.

I didn't get to see my room or really start working on my classroom until Tuesday afternoon. I am sharing a room with a Spanish teacher which has benefits. The room that we are sharing is extremely small. It was designed, originally, to be a teacher workroom. We are supposed to be fitting 38 students into this tiny room. Thursday before we both went home, we rearranged the room to make the desks more accessible, but I still had students climbing over and under desks to sit.

The first couple days have been amazing. I am extremely thankful and lucky to have such a wonderful staff to be working with. They all have welcomed me back and have been saying the nicest things about me-- especially to the principal. The teacher I am sharing the room with told the principal that I don't act like a first year teacher, it looks like I have been teaching for years-- very nice compliment. Also, I just keep hearing various comments, helping to boost my self-esteem as a teacher, which is so nice. Furthermore, my mentor teachers from last year have been helping me, especially with lesson and unit plans because with such short notice it is hard creating unit plans so quickly.

Yesterday was an exhausting day because so much went on during school hours. I have been arriving early because I want to get organized. The half hour the teachers are contracted to be at school before it starts goes by so quickly, I need to get there earlier. But between the hazing of the new teachers at the pep assembly and helping one of my sophmore advisee students it was a tiring day. Good, but tiring.

I will keep you all updated about everything else!