New and Overwhelmed… and Happy!

Oh my goodness… my first day has come and gone, and I can’t even tell you how busy I have been. I wanted to get one here and blog much sooner, but it’s been impossible to do anything other than try to keep up. So, here is just a brief rundown of a few highlights:

* I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my students. They are fun, quirky, and exactly the age group that I love. 8th graders are hilarious (and slightly annoying sometimes, lol). They ask great questions and listen to me when I talk. They respect me and I respect them. It’ great that we have such a warm classroom community already. I am excited to see how we evolve as a team!

* I am not so excited about the relentless emails that bombard my inbox. I am having a really hard time keeping all of these schedules, calendars, random events, and rules and procedures that I have to keep track of. My calendar looks ridiculous!!! haha, I’m getting the hang of it, though.

* At my school, we don’t use bells. It’s pretty amazing how well this is working. I have a SMART board application that allows the students to take attendance on their own as they walk into the room. I have a quick visual cue when everyone is present, then I can just start class. On average, I start class 2-3 minutes before the normal start time and let class out right at the time class ends. I love this because everyone stays engaged longer. I also covered my clock so they don’t stare at the clock and try to pack up way before they should. It’s awesome!

* I love my classroom. I have a great setup and the feeling is so warm and inviting. I even have a window! Well, it is next to the emergency exit (yes, it is in my classroom), but I don’t mind. I light a candle in the morning or when I’m planning, which makes my room and the hall smell so yummy! Other teachers and students want to hangout in my room because of how welcoming it is! I’m so happy that I achieved that warm and cozy, yet engaging and exciting atmosphere.

* I miss my family! I feel like I’m not around my kids and husband enough. My school is 35 minutes from my house, which makes my day kinda long. Sometimes I don’t even get home until 6pm. Then my kids have to eat dinner, do homework, and shower. My life is so busy and it’s only going to get busier when CADRE classes start next week. I know that it will get easier, but until I hit that sweet spot with my routine, I’m just going to be crazy busy. Oh well… it’s just one more year, then I will have my Master’s. Then, we can find a bigger house that accommodates our family much better. It is all for the good of the family.

Well, that’s it for now. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has commented on my previous posts. It is the community of teachers who have like experiences and interests that keep me motivated.

— Stephanie