At the end of the day tomorrow, I will have met all my kids.  My school kids, not MY kids.  They understand that.  Today I taught five grade levels, assisted in the Student Support Center, helped supervise lunch for 2^ndand 3^rd grade, had lunch, did a little planning and attended a meeting at the end of the day.  I fell asleep in my chair after dinner.  It’s only Tuesday.  Oh, and I really enjoyed myself today and so far, all I’ve taught are procedures.  Don’t laugh – I’m serious.

One of our wonderful custodians walked in my room to take care of my trash cans and asked how my day was.  I said, 2 down, 187 to go.  He groaned and said he didn’t need to hear that. Not that I’m counting.  It’s obviously easier to count from the beginning.  I lose track if you ask me in the middle of the year.  Except for when we celebrate the 100^th day of school, which isn’t really the middle, but you get my drift.  I usually start counting about 30 days from the end because that’s when I’m feeling I really need that summer break.  Not that I didn’t work some this past break, but it is a break from the usual routine.  The nice thing about my schedule this year is that not only do I have 3 days at school and then 3 days at the office, but my 3 days at school are completely different.  My plan time falls at different times each day, so things are never the same.  The hummingbird in me likes that.

So far what I’ve discovered about these kids is that they’re just kids.  The names are different – in some cases VERY different as we have a large ELL population, but otherwise they’re the same as any child I’ve ever taught.  The same excitement, hopes and fears, likes and dislikes, gifts and talents as any other kid. To my delight, the majority of my students have been kind, extremely polite and well behaved.  I’ve been teaching long enough that I know this is the honeymoon period, but I’m highly encouraged.  These students are surrounded by caring adults who want only the best for them.  These are my kind of people.

Truthfully, the procedure thing gets a little old by the third day.  While the classroom teacher tends to have just their students to introduce the procedures to and then practice, I teach the same procedures (with some modifications for grade levels) about 15 times without additional practice.  So far, they’ve been terribly impressed with the picture I have with Mr. Quaver and that this is my 32^nd year of teaching.  The Kinders, who of course are experiencing school for the first time are little whack-a-moles, so tactile in wanting to learn about the room and all its treasures, the exact opposite of what I’m trying to teach in the procedures.  As I was talking to my colleagues today, Kindergarten is that grade level where we have to figure out if they’re just really young or if they just don’t get it.  Or a little of both.  For those of you who have young children (“why?”, “can I touch that?”, “can I tell you about my dog?”, “I have two sisters!”), multiply that by 20.  No wonder I’m tired.  Thank goodness I only have them for 50 minutes.  Kindergarten teachers are a combination of saint and superhero.

I’m already getting high fives, fist bumps and hugs, especially from the younger kids, with the occasional “Hi Mrs. Bush” from down the hall.  The older students are still checking me out, especially the 5^th graders who are already thinking they’re all that.  5^th graders tend to do that because, after all, they’re almost in middle school!  As mentioned in a previous blog, I’m the person who has taken over for the teacher they’ve had since Kindergarten.  They’re not going to accept me after one day.  I would expect nothing less.

There have been some incidents and mistakes in the past two days.  I left my room to use the restroom and check my mailbox, thinking I had a break.  I was wrong.  Someone had to get me to let me know that 4^thgraders were sitting in my room.  Oops.  One of my younger students decided to try and eat my hourglass timer today.  It has been sanitized. One student decided to just walk out my door to use the bathroom without telling me.  Thank goodness for the para.  A young man in 1^st grade, after hearing a song I wanted them to sing, shared out loud, “please don’t ever play that song again”.  So, I played it again.  They will learn who is in charge in my classroom. That’s the 31 years talking.

The last time I taught children in a classroom was March 13, 2020.  882 days ago, if my math is correct.  I’m looking at what I do through fresh eyes and It makes 187 days seem like nothing.  Looking forward to day 3 tomorrow!