The First Day of School

All over again! AHH! I am calling this the first day of school because I went in to a professional development workshop today, so I stopped in to see my room. I was allowed in the room I was told to move everything into, but I couldn't find any of my supplies. I looked all over for my boxes and mini fridge and found it across the hall. I told her I'd move it out the next day. That's when I talked to my assistant principal. Turns out we had made a whole new switch.

Goodbye, marker boards. Hello, chalk. Goodbye, wall of tiny windows. Hello, walls with no windows. I wish I hadn't moved at all, but I will get over it.

The workshop was about co-teaching. I learned a lot today, in fact:

- There are more than six methods of coteaching with another licensed teacher.
- If one person does all the teaching, and the other watches, something is wrong.
- Co-teachers must both be licensed teachers. Usually one has expertise in content and the other has expertise in special education strategies.
- Many teachers at my school have tried to coteach but weren't satisfied with their partner teacher's work.
- My school district will do anything researchers tell them to do in the interest of raising kids' performance on assessments.


and here's my daily lessons about being a new teacher:
- Never assume that plans you make will go unchanged.
- Never get upset over these fluctuations, because it ain't worth it.
- Say hi to the new people you don't know. This makes it easier to ask for favors later.
- Sometimes you have to say the wrong thing like four times before someone corrects you. That's when you thank them.

I brought home a copy of both textbooks and I have my scope and sequence handy. Time to sketch out some idea of where I want to take these kids this year! I am getting excited. My second year feels the way I wish my first had: I'm excited. I feel confident. I have great ideas. And most of all, I feel like I can handle this stress and momentary uncertainty. I actually have time to plan ahead, unlike last year. I know whom I can turn to for help, and whom I should avoid. There is no fanfare rally this year to welcome the teachers back, but I am going to make some noise for the sixth graders.