first day

Locker Room;

School opened with little conflict.  The students were on their best behavior, mainly because their brains have not yet been activated. I did my share of talking, but I did get them out of their seats for one activity. A few students came to me during free time; I find this rewarding yet disappointing for those students who do not know their classmates.  One student said he hated working on assignments where he had to talk to other people.  Another student asked if he could sleep on the floor because he preferred sleeping  until 7:30 every evening. A couple girls in my Honors class laughed when I asked the class if anyone read for fun.  They both thought it was funny because they read to avoid people.  I hope middle school will bring them all out of their comfort zone.  That may be the point of middle school.

My last hour class could literally not be contained.  With only 24 desks, the thirty students were cramped in chairs through the rows.  The stench was unbelievable in the room.  By the end of the day, normally a class is bound to have one stinking kid.  Somehow the stinking kids were spread out throughout the room creating the aroma only known from the locker room after a homecoming football game.  I am still surprised the odor left with them. I actually gave the “We are teenagers now, so we need to remember deodorant and showers regularly, especially after PE.”  It seemed rather early and broad, since I normally give this speech to only one student at a time, not an entire class.  Not sure if I convinced the students that needed the most help; the smell may venture forth again.  I may have to sniff out the stinkers on my own.  Lovely…they do not teach you that in college.

My covered feet were ripped apart from pacing back and forth repeating myself over and over again.  I should have just wore the flip-flops.  When did flip-flops become unprofessional anyway? My district does not actually say this, but I thought I would step out of my normal clothes.  It did nothing but give me blisters.

Despite the war wounds and the stench, I am in it for the long haul.  My first goal is to get these kids to know each other.  They were so incredibly shy.  Of course, I will laugh out loud in March when I revisit this wish of the kids being more comfortable and chatty.  Still, I am prepared.  This is going to be a great year!

School Dreams

The night before the first day of school always gets me antsy.  Even when I am completely prepared for the first weeks, I still have wild dreams.  ACTUALLY, I have strange school dreams throughout the year, too.  They are both caused by stress, a part of life.  Normally they involve trying to find another teacher or administrator to stop some strange behavior in class.  I imagine myself a comedian getting booed.  I hustle around trying to find a back up plan or a worksheet, while students fly anything from paper airplanes to large knives through the air.  Never can I find help; I scream for help over and over.  Sometimes the school is empty, the phone is busy, or all the halls are titling back and forth  like in a funhouse.  Other times, my assistant principal tells me that I am just making a big deal about the knives; they are not weapons unless they are making a verbal threat, he says.  I have had all types of school dreams.  It is impossible to fall asleep.

I am just like any  kid that starts the first day of school.  I have had 28 firsts days of school!   I ALWAYS dress is new clothes; I have always tried to get my picture taken for nostalgia purposes.   I always buy new school supplies for myself…new pens and post-its.  Buying just supplies for the classroom is not enough; although it does help.

Everything about the first day of school makes me all giggy inside.   I get to meet new students.  I get a new beginning.  One great thing about teaching is that if the year is not going as well as you want, the year is always nearly over.  The first day is a fresh start.  I have new hopes and dreams.  Plus I really enjoy teaching.  I don’t think there is another job I would want to do more than teach.  Even if the pay was minimum wage, I would still be doing this.

Anything could happen.  It is all starting THIS week.

Another great thing being a teacher is we get a practice day.  Tomorrow is the first day for teachers; Tuesday is the first day for students.  I get the same feelings for both days.  I intend on some pretty vivid dreams tonight.  Two first days…both are probably equally as useless.  My mother told me to remember how boring the teachers’ first day is, so I will be sympathetic to the students when I drone on and on about classroom rules and such.  I promise to try, Mom.  It has to start somewhere, and I AM READY FOR IT TO START.

Bring it on, TEENAGERS!  Bring it on, TEACHERS!  Bring it on, PRINCIPAL!

Bring it on, DISTRICT! Bring it on, PARENTS!


I am ready for it all.  If I only can get through the first days without any sleep.