Back to Work

I've laid out my clothes and I've packed my lunch. I am so excited to go back to work! Molly is picking me up at 6:45-- we'll go to Starbucks and get coffee before heading up to school. She must not be excited either because we don't have to be there until 8:00...Maybe I'll even order a Caramel Macchiato in celebration instead of my usual tall, black and bold order...

Ah yes... my job... I love it-- as much as I complain at times about the difficulties, I L.O.V.E. it. True, I spend all of June mourning because I miss my students. In July, I decide to look for another job. After a few days, I decide that changing fields is too much work. I then become resigned to starting all over again. I usually have my family around so I can forget about work but right around the end of July and certainly by August 1st, I'm itching to get back to work and ready to fall in love with a whole new group of amazing children. I'm telling you, my job is the greatest. It's the whole heartbreak when you say goodbye in June...

This year, I'm teaching first grade, again. I've had a 7 year hiatus whilst being the librarian and a second grade teacher but tomorrow, I'm going back to my roots. First grade is where the rubber meets the road. There is a lot of prep work done in Kinder. There's much review and refinement in Second grade but First Grade... well, there's nothing else like it. It's here they learn to read and write. It's here so much of their educational outlook is formed. A good first grade year can easily carry a kid into third grade if not beyond... I am determined that my students will have the best first grade experience they could ever hope to have. Not coincidentally, I am also hoping to take these first graders into second grade. Yes, that is my evil masterplan! Then I don't have to say goodbye in June, it's just "See you in two months"... Of course, it'll be miserable the year after but I am not thinking about that now.

I've looped before when I was teaching 5th grade. I looped into 6th with my students and after a half hour of discussing our summer, we were ready to get down to work. That second year with my students was amazing! I knew who could do what, I knew families and strengths as well as weaknesses. You just don't hear, "We didn't learn that last year.", because you know what they learned. That whole first four weeks when we learn about students, classroom rules and learn about each other is over. It's astonishing how much progress you can make in one GOOD year but it's pure dead brilliant what you can do in TWO years! I want that again. And so I've gone through the ordeal of moving rooms and learning new curriculum because I have a plan. Famous last words, to be sure, but stay tuned for the wonder of my working life...

In the meantime, I have picked out an outfit that should say "stylish" but not "trying too hard". I've packed a lunch consisting of a bowl of soup, salad, and cantaloupe because I cannot believe what damage two measley scoops of ice cream for dessert every night can do to my body and I'm ready.

I'm really ready.


I hope I can sleep tonight...