I survived my first full week of school. Some lovely moments...some not so lovely. Here are some photos of my classroom. If only I would have taken a before photo! The new schedule has been pretty hard on the kiddos. They cried the mornings I took them to our new babysitter. I'm hoping next week will be better. Speaking of new babysitter, please pray for our new babysitter Phillis. She is an angel. (not my words, but someone else's, I have to agree) She told me this week she is probably going to have back surgery which means we will have to find a new babysitter. She wholeheartedly loves children and has given so much over the years, I'm praying that God will bless her as she has blessed so many families by healing her back. Not just for our benefit but hers of course!
So far I am enjoying teaching. The hardest thing has been planning curriculum since it's not clearly defined for art and theater. Next year will be SO much better.
New teacher [self-learned] survival tips:
1. Try to avoid the phrase "art is sexy" coming up in your first hour, first day of school.
2. Please remember to bring plastic utensils so you don't have to stir creamer into your much needed coffee with a toothpick.
3. Try to socialize even though you don't have time. Make yourself leave your classroom and talk to other teachers during lunch, you might learn something.
4. Don't make jokes before your students know your sense of humor. They won't laugh.
5. Try to have realistic expectations. My husband has been great about offering a dose of reality to my crazy ideas.
6. For every difficult student there are twice as many delightful ones. Enjoy them.
7. Don't be too quick to celebrate the worst student in your theater class getting his schedule changed...he might just show up in your art class.
8. The faster you can memorize names the better. Seating charts are awesome.
9. Wear comfortable shoes.
10. Planning is highly necessary but flexibility is paramount.
11. Students assume you know more than you really do, roll with it!
12. The Croc-Pot will be your best friend.
5 comments:
The kids sitter surely isn't Phyllis D.? In Pratville? Attends Church of Christ? If so, she watched me and my brother when we were little. :) Congrats on first week of school!!!
Hang in there. It keeps getting easier! I'm sure the kids will get used to the new routine in no time. The art is sexy line had me laughing out loud. Yeah, not generally a thing you want to say the first 10 minutes of class. ;)
All I have to say is WOW! I just saw your classroom, not long before school started, and it looked nothing like this! Not that it looked bad, but oh my gosh, this is great!! I love the shelves in your office, and I love the new placement of your desk, and I love the new tables...and how great are those flowers?!, and well, it's all just awesome. Great job, Shelly, your classroom is nothing like the dingy, dirty, color-less classroom I had, while in high school.
I'm so happy that, overall, things are going well in the classroom, and hopefully all will work well with your sitter. She sounds amazing.
I love your list!
Any word containing 'sex' should probably be left out of any and all conversations, regardless of content...when you're dealing with 9th graders. ;) Thanks for the laugh, and I love your honesty.
Here's to things going smoother each week!
Love, T.
Shelly, your classroom is awesome! I am so impressed!! :)
Love you, Grandma
The classroom looks really good, your hard work paid off.
Big neighborhood garage sale is Sept 19th, if you want to bring anything over.
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