(my classroom. pic taken by camera phone)
tomorrow is the first day of school. i have been preparing for/dreading this day all summer. don't get me wrong, i dig my job and my students, however, i am not as excited as last year. but on the other hand (and more positively so), i am not as nervous either. i know what to expect. i know the kids will come, full of energy. full of life and gatorade. hot cheetos and attitude. my students are comming, and i am not ready.
i am still new to this.
fresh in the teaching game, and i kind of feel like this is my first day of school all over again. i wonder, what will i wear? what will they think of me? how will they like the class (and me)? i know i am not supposed to care how the students view me. i am the teacher, after all. however, i don't want to merely be an authority figure who they look for every opportunity to buck. i'd rather be a mentor. a facilitator of words and sounds and thoughts that get sparked somewhere in the back of their mind. i want to be THAT teacher that movies and books are written about. THAT teacher that kids think about every time they are asked, "who inspired you to be....great?"
lofty goals, i know. ambitious. perhaps even foolish. but if we, teachers, enter our classrooms thinking that we can't save them all, or thinking some will ultimately fail...WE will fail.
my kids...yes, MY kids, not by birth but by birth right, are a blank canvas waiting to be filled. they need love and manners and slaps on the wrist. they need us, teacher-folk/parent-folk to stand in the gaps and help them dream.
a daunting task, but i'm ready.
i think.
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You are an inspiration to me and your students are lucky to have you. Good luck on the begining of your journey. I know you will be exceptional my friend.
blessings sistalove. i just returned to reading your blog. i love all of the posts especially the ones from your trip to see your beloved. i am glad that you and your son were able to spend time with him. best wishes with the new school year. continue to flow with Spirit. live and love as you were created to be. peace and joy, ananda
came by to say Hey, Mama! love the new header!
if your LIVE vibe is anything like your blog vibe those kids LOVE U! i was teaching for 16 years & every year (new school or not) i got the first day jitters & couldn't sleep the night before....you'll be fine - just breathe;-).
HUGz! gotta catch up w/ yr older posts, now.
thanks ladies...
so far we are a little over a week in & everything is going fine. this year is definitely going a bit smoother than the first!