September 03, 2007

first day jitters

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  I’m always a little nervous and excited about it.  You never quite know what to expect.  I do know that I have 25 kids. Only one of my kids was removed for some reason, probably because he couldn’t be with another kid, but I got a trade.  I made my plans for the day, but I’m sure I won’t be able to fit everything into my day.  The first day goes so fast.  Not to mention, I have my double prep tomorrow, so I lose a period tomorrow too. 

One of my students is coming from the school that I student taught in. She would have actually been in kindergarten the year I student taught in kindergarten.  I don’t recognize the name, so she probably didn’t have that teacher, or she wasn’t in the school that year. I’ll find out tomorrow when I ask her. 

My classroom isn’t as organized as I would have liked.  I did level their books, but I didn’t organize or make new labels for the books that go into categories like science and social studies. So I still have a lot to do. I have to make sure I get up early to get there at 7:30. I just need to make sure that I have everything set up.  I want to take down their chairs, hand out the pencils and bookmarks I have for them. I would like the notices to be out on their desks as well.  I really could use just one more day to get myself organized.  I’m starting to get stressed.  I hate first days.  25 kids you are in charge of and have to keep track of and you don’t even know them.  I’m always afraid of losing one of them.  I don’t know their parents, I don’t know who is taking them home.  It’s all very stressful. Not to mention you’re expected the teach the first day.  Who has time for teaching when there are supplies to be collected, books to be handed out, notices to be handed out, rules to be made, kids to get to know, there is just not enough time.  I wish I had a partner to help me.  That would be so nice.