NOW I Want a JOB!

I finally decided I REALLY wanted a job of my own. I was becoming frustrated teaching others’ classes. During my subbing, I identified I really liked upper elementary. K-2 was way too much effort. Kids needed way too much from me. High schoolers, on a good day, tolerated me. Middler schoolers hated subs. They really weren’t capable of tolerance and just wanted the sub to go away. A third grade position opened and was offered to me. Again, having subbed for 1½ years, I knew the staff and wanted to be a part of this district. I took the job.

Elementary teachers traditionally spend at least a week prior to their 1st duty day preparing their classroom (BTW...off-the-clock). They make name-plates for each student, go through textbooks placing each child’s name in them. They decorate the numerous bulletin boards with motivating educational posters. This little task in itself is monumental. First background paper or fabric must be put up, then comes the trim, lettering for the bulletin boards, and finally the posters. Then additional posters, caricatures all around the room, on the door, down the hall outside the room.

As a first year teacher, I was overwhelmed and at a loss. For a week I’d go to my classroom and look around. I just had no clue how to get started. My student-teaching experience had been 2nd semester. I had not 'opened' a classroom, AND had never 'closed' a classroom. My teaching partners across the hall had been done for days. They kept looking in, sharing greetings, and I’m sure seeing my dilemma. Knowing these wonderful folks, I’m, also, just as sure they were trying to decide when to offer help. Finally, the day before the students would come, a 2nd grade teacher and a 3rd grade teacher wandered in for a chat. While we chatted they took charge. They put my room together and I assisted. They loaned me their decorating ‘extras.’ I now was ready for my kids and my first day as a 3rd grade teacher.

I did not sleep well the entire week prior to starting my job. I didn’t sleep at all the night before my first day with my students. I had planned a ‘speech’ for my twenty-five 3rd graders. Many of their parents brought them to school, met the teacher, and wished them well. They were all bright, cheery, new clothes, and book-bags full of new supplies.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, I was on, center stage. I started my speech; how glad I was they were here, how happy I was to be here, what we would be studying throughout the year in all subjects…math, English, reading, writing, science, social studies, art projects, spelling. After about 20+ minutes, apparently I took a breath. The most adorable, smiling, little girl sitting in the front room, center aisle says, “You’re really excited aren’t ya?” I said, “Yes, I am.”

My first year was wonderful and exhausting. I wanted more than anything to make my students’ 3rd grade year great and memorable. I woke up each and every day excited to go to school. I planned. I worked to make every lesson plan of every subject meaningful, fun, and memorable (all except spelling…it just seemed to be boring and no hope). I had cooking classes in math, science, and social studies; movies for science, social studies; guest speakers for social studies and science; puppet plays for English and science; crafts for art included playdough, painting, decorations for every holiday, made a class quilt; I spent 3 hours every evening, most weekends planning and making instructional materials. It was GREAT!