Saturday, August 23, 2014

First Day Virgin

Student teaching? End of a school year. 
5th grade class? January to June, end of the year. 
P.E. Teacher? Oh sure, three years but the first week of school is different for PE: fewer and simpler rules and procedures, and get the kids running to work off their own back to school anxiety. 

So don't tell my new boss, but I've never done this whole First Week of School thing...

Can I give them a test on our first day? 
Or do we have to do lots of cute creative projects to decorate the room?
Is the "Don't smile until Christmas" rule in effect?
Do I really need to have 4th graders practice lining up and raising their hands?
How soon do we open the textbooks?
Will we even have textbooks yet?

Can I just skip ahead to week 2?

Friday, August 22, 2014

Inspiration to Perspiration

I went from "Finally!" to "Now what?!?" in less than 12 hours.

In the time it took me to drink an entire bottle of champagne then jolt awake at 4:45am I went from relieved the application/interview/hiring process was over and brimming with ideas to inspire and educate 30 young minds to terrified with the prospect of not having even the slightest idea as to what I was getting into and what I am supposed to do.

So what is a new teacher feeling with just over one week before school starts?

  • Nauseated (then again, see champagne contribution above)
  • Nervous
  • Unprepared
  • Panicked
  • Lost
  • Clueless
  • Embarrassed (what if someone finds out I'm clueless?)
  • Overwhelmed
  • Shy
  • Jittery
  • Duplicitous (did I lie when I said I could do this?)
  • Confused
Part of it is the fact that I don't know yet what grade I'll be teaching. Probably 4th, but maybe 2nd or 3rd? Since I don't know the grade level no one knew what room I would be in. I think I will feel much better, more confident and prepared, once I'm standing in our classroom with specific students to plan for.

I hope.

Do teachers throw up on the first day of school?