The first day of kindergarten has arrived! What do I do now?
I have how many 5/6 year olds to entertain for how long?
Well, my illustrious 3 years of teaching have made me a pro. NOT! All three years, have meant last minute hirings for me.
Year 1, I graduated Dec 5 and by Dec 19 had my first job teaching 6th grade.
Year 2, I was hired to teach 6th grade a week AFTER school started. I was hired on Friday and started on Monday.
Year 3, I was hired on Friday and started on Monday.
I can’t wait to tell you I have been hired in the spring and I will have all summer to plan and prepare for that wonderful first day.
It is now December and I am just starting to feel like I can do this!
I have December planned. I am starting to work on January already.
I feel so accomplished. I also feel like there are some holes in my teaching that need to be filled. I have had to reteach some concepts. We have had to focus on routines better. (Guess what? next year, my procedures are going to ROCK!) I started with 15 kids. We went to 20. Lost one. Gained one. In November we lost and gained 5 total. December, we have gained another. All in all, I have 20 now. This number fluctuates and also interrupts the classroom cohesion. So, we have reteaching moments.
First year teaching a new grade is tough! I have so much to do, read, learn and organize. Some days, I wonder how I made it through. Some days I wonder if my kiddos will graduate kindergarten. I wonder if I am lacking some specifics that they will need. I wonder if everyone’s class acts kooky on the same days as mine? I ponder if I am what this class needs? What if I fail?
Now that I am in my 3rd year of teaching, I also have to complete an E.Y.E. binder and take a huge Praxis II test. If I fail at these…I have a chance to do again but, without these I can’t be rehired. Pressure, Pressure!
So this year, I am teaching kiddos, learning a new curriculum, preparing for my test, completing my binder and being a wife/mother. It feels overwhelming at times. It feel manageable at other times. It feels depressing at times and it feels amazing at times.
I guess this rambling is for me to realize that this is my job in life. A calling if you will. To nature, protect and help children be their best selves. Do I always do great at this? No but I do my best and no one is asking anything more from me…except me.
(what my kitchen counter looks like at any given moment of the day)
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