Today was the first day of my school in my district (and, I'm pretty sure in every other public school district in the state). I went into things very nervous, it's hard to plan for the first day, especially when you don't know your students. My aides were in a tizzy, worrying about how we'd cover all of our students, which I'll admit, still has me worried. In short, we were all worked up and on each other's nerves.
And then the students came. When that happens, everything changes about a school. The focus shifts from the staff to the students, as it rightfully should. Everyone pitches in, does what is needed and comes through for the students. Yes, we're still worried about coverage, and I think we could better serve the students with just one more para, even just a half-time para would make things considerably easier. But, when the students come, everyone does what the students need, and things get done. In short, it was a great day.
I've been in the educational field long enough to know that not every day will go this smoothly. Staff will be overworked, stretched thin, and exhausted. The students will drive us crazy on some days. And we will undoubtedly get on each other's nerves. There will be days whens students melt down and nobody gets to eat lunch. That's just the nature of the beast. But today, we managed to do what was needed when it was needed. And that's a good thing.
Overall, the day was a huge success. I got to know much more about the abilities of the kiddos on my case load. Then I got another student added to my case load (isn't life fun). Things went the way they should, and better than I could have hoped as a new teacher. I'm anxious to get back and see how things are different tomorrow. It will be another light day, I'm not going to start pulling kids until after the long weekend. Right now, I'm just getting an idea where the kiddos are, and planning for when the real teaching work starts next week.
But I won't worry about all that right now. Right now, I'm going to pick up my knitting needles for the first time in a week, and enjoy.
