Gets Ready for Kindergarten.
I'm at a coffee shop because even though I'm getting ready for kindergarten, I'm not hooked up to the internet at my apartment yet. And I'm not ready for kindergarten. Twenty years. That's how long it's been since I've been in a kindergarten classroom. Okay, that's not true anymore because I've been setting up my classroom for the last two weeks. I'm so overwhelmed by it all. If I screw it up, these kids aren't prepared for the rest of the their lives. I know. I know. A little dramatic. But TFA got to me. I'm setting these kids up for failure if they don't get everything they need to succeed for first grade in kindergarten. If I screw up and don't show them how to count by fives correctly, I may as well just have them watching Dora the Explorer all day because at least they'd learn how to cross a bridge and be friends with a monkey or whatever it is she does when she's exploring. Needless to say, probably because I already said it in that textual vomit you just skimmed through, I'm feeling nervous and insecure about my abilities as a teacher and the reasons TFA chose me.
Tomorrow, I'm walking into my classroom and not letting those kids smell fear. I met seven of them on Thursday during Meet the Teacher night. It turns out, they were meeting me. I had a lot of fun with them but I can tell they're going to be a handful. In the best way possible. We're going to play a little and calm our nerves. Them and me. And we're going to look at the calendar and learn the days of the week and sing the August song. And we're going to learn how to line up without pushing or running on our marshmallow toes and that we shouldn't cry or be afraid of the fire drill sirens. Then, I'm going to read The Kissing Hand. I hope it puts them at ease with kindergarten. They'll make cutouts of their own hands with hearts glued on the inside to give to their parents. I'll think about all the places I've left with my hands in my pockets because no one cared to kiss them. But then! A note will fall out of the book and Chester the raccoon will lead us on a tour of the school, which will end on the playground. I'm not sure what the rest of the day will look like just yet because I haven't read through my lesson plans in a few days and that's what I'm procrastinating right now. But we'll do some math and some community circle and then they'll go to specials and home and I'll be freaking out that I'll have 179 more days of failure ahead of me. But that's a terrible attitude. I'll have 179 more days of potential success ahead of me and all my kids because failure is not an option. Because I have to set these kids up for success. Have to.
Miss Thomas is getting ready for Kindergarten. I bought my very own copy of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Now, I feel like a real teacher. I will leave this coffee shop shortly and spend time in an internet-free zone when I will have to be more creative in my methods of procrastination. I will set out a sensible but fun outfit and make sure I have all my students' gift bags ready. Then, I'll go through my lesson plans for the millionth time to make sure there's no way I can fail them. Actually, first I think I'll head to Borders to buy the Miss Bindergarten series since I couldn't find it at any of the used books stores. It must be a real gem of a book. Oh, then I'll have to work on creating a unit assessment because TFA said so. I just don't ask questions anymore.
Yesterday, I didn't drink any coffee. It felt great.
Love:
Snack time
Kindergarten
Phoenix rain storms
wi-fi
Fresh fruit
Hugs
Charles in Charge
Macaroni and cheese (even if it is gluten free)
Fears:
Being a bad teacher
Cockroaches
Not being able to speak Spanish
Palo Verde Beetles
To be Determined:
Living alone (for the time being)
Jon lives two hours away
Gluten Free diet
All this alone time.
Needs:
Love
Vacation
Time to write
Hugs
-Theresa
8 comments:
You will do great! First days are always hard...but one step at a time! And you already know not to let your kids be friends with monkeys because they are blind and on crack. You are one step ahead already!
Tim lives 8 1/2 plane hours away...2 hours is, well still hard, but totally doable :)
Erin
I totally don't know you from Adam, but I could've written that post and I've been teaching for 10 years! I love kindergarten too! I try to remind myself that on the first day of school everyone is scared, but that we will become great friends in our pursuit of knowledge and that if I have an open mind and heart, they will teach me as much as I will teach them! Just wanted to let you know that you spoke to my heart and wish you good luck for an amazing school year!
Gluten Free Macaroni and cheese rocks!!! You will do great. This is my 8th year of Kindergarten, and I'm still not ready for the first day LOL!!!
It took me 5 years of successful teaching (more or less)before I quit feeling like a fraud. I was sure the principal was going to come in and say they had made a mistake. Trust yourself. Don't expect to master anything this year. Just do the best you can and it will be enough. Good luck! I have to wait another month to meet my K class.
Going in to year 12 on Aug. 23, and I know that I will barely sleep the night before (just like I never did as a student). One thing that helps beginning with the 2nd year is to reflect on how far the class that is headed to first grade now got on their kindergarten learning adventure. My new adventure this year will be having one of my kids in kinder at my school. I began my teaching career when my oldest kids were in 3rd and 6th grade. I hope that the third is able to make her own way without hanging on me on the playground and such. I will not be able to go and volunteer in her room like I did with the others since I have my own room now, so I have to rely on her (and my teammate) to let me know how things are going. I am sure that your first day will be awesome. Good Luck!
I finished my first year teaching kinder this last year, I feel like I could have written this blog post 12 months ago! You can do it! The moment everything clicked (including my confidence) was when they first started to read. Then I knew I could teach and, by some miracle, they would learn what I was teaching.
Enjoy it! Two most rewarding days ahead of you: first time you hear them read and graduation when you hear how much you've been appreciated and what a difference you've made. Be prepared for some hard days too, but learn to leave work at work when things become out of your control (such as difficult parents). May I suggest a well-stocked wine collection and lots of chocolate?
You are going to do a great job!! Your plan for the first day sounds great and I love the idea of a note falling out of The Kissing Hand. They will eat that up!! In fact, I'm going to use your idea on my own first day of Kindergarten in a few weeks. Best of luck to you :)
My goodness, you guys are great! I survived! And so did they! It was great to hear from so many different people. I am definitely encouraged albeit, emotional. Thank you all.
Post a Comment