Wow! The first week of school with my students is over. I have so many thoughts running through my head. This week has been exciting, exhausting, and memorable.
First off, I have to say that I was and am extremely tired! I have 24 students who have shown up and are definitely in my class. Oh, did I mention that I have these sweet students ALL by myself! Yes, that would let you know the reason why I'm so tired. I have started each morning at 4:30 and been at the school by 6:30. The students arrive starting at 7:00 and leave at 2:30. I DON'T and haven't sat down while they are with me except for about 10 minutes at lunch. Now, I do have a PE break each day and another short break 4 days during the week (not on Friday) and I do sit down after taking my restroom break and any running around I need to do during that time. I haven't left my school before 8:00 on Mon. through Wed. this week.
On Thursday, I did not make a post because one of my sisters picked me up at school and took me to meet my oldest sister who had purchased tickets for us to go to the Chicago (the band) concert! I was so tired on Thursday afternoon that I was tempted to call and tell her that I needed to stay at school and get some work done. (I can't do it with my students there because they demand my attention. And I'm not kidding.) Well, my sister picked me up and brought my husband to get my car. Then we headed to the concert. The concert was in a town about an hour and a half away and my husband didn't want me driving home after the concert for fear that I would fall asleep while driving. He knows me so well. I haven't had much sleep this week and he knows that at some point I'm going to go to sleep no matter what I'm doing! The concert was awesome but I will admit that during the concert there were times that my mind drifted by to my classroom and what I SHOULD be doing..... Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed the concert and my sister bought me a concert t-shirt for my birthday which isn't here yet! I had a wonderful time and my husband picked me up at 10:00. As soon as I got in the car, I leaned my seat back and quickly drifted off. I woke up only once on the drive home and that was because my neck was starting to hurt and I had to find my neck pillow. It didn't take long to fall back to sleep. I woke up when we got home and went straight to bed. Man, was I tired!!!!!
Four-thirty came really fast! I was at school early waiting for the door to be unlocked. I needed to make sure everything was ready before my students arrived. At 6:30 the custodian pulled up and unlocked the door. (Yes, the custodian has a key.) I don't know where the time goes. It is 7:00 and my first student, a high school teacher's child, is in my room and not long after that the first bus rolls in and drops off more students. I do get a few morning tasks done but not many. I seem to be having technical difficulties with my SMART Board. I'll plan to call SMART tech support after school.
I write morning instructions on the board. Of course, my students haven't learned to read and follow instructions very well. I believe this is typical of my grade students. I remember that this was the case many years ago. I guess some things never change! With that in mind, I look forward to "after Christmas" when I remember that they grow up and are much more independent! Anyway, I know that I must be consistent. The day flies by and it is time for my students to leave.
After I walk my students to their buses, I meet with my grade teachers to talk about what we are doing and plan for next week. We all agree that our students need consistency and much review over skills taught last year. We also determine that we may need to make some changes in our methods of teaching to meet their needs. We plan to review next week what we covered this week. We will all work more on helping the students learn our routines, rules, and procedures in an effort to have a successful year. I had to leave because I also work a part-time job on the weekends which start on Friday. I must leave by 4:00 in order to get to work on time. We agree that they will pull any materials to be copied and I'll take care of them this weekend or early Monday morning. I leave and my co-workers stay and continue to plan.
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