Back in the Saddle

Wow! It's been pretty crazy since the last time I posted...

I graduated, got a teaching job, worked at the library all summer, helped my brothers and sister at the county fair, leased an apartment, moved in with an aunt until my lease starts, got my classroom ready for school, and finally... finished the first day of school as a licensed teacher!

For those who don't know, I got a job at a small Lutheran school in between Mankato and New Ulm, MN.  The school is actually in the country, just a short walk across the road and down the street from the church.  I'm officially the 5th and 6th grade teacher, but this year I don't have any 5th graders.  My class consists of six very interesting students. 

I'll also teach 7th and 8th grade science and geography, and 1st and 2nd grade art (I'm pretty sure the 1st and 2nd graders are a bit more excited about that arrangement than the 7th and 8th graders...)  While I'm teaching those students, the principal will be teaching my kids math and PE, and the 1st and 2nd grade teacher will be teaching my kids music, handbells to be specific.

Today I got out of the house earlier than I expected, which was a good thing since I had a bunch of stuff to do at school.  I didn't feel nervous at all, except when some of the 8th grade girls came into my room and started talking to one of mine while I was trying to explain open house information to a parent who didn't make it.  I think the girls got the hint that maybe they shouldn't be in my room, so they left shortly after that.

The rest of the day went fine.  We had a surprise visit from the 1st and 2nd graders; they dropped off a present for me since it was my first day ever.  I got the book, "Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School."  After they left, I read the book aloud to my 6th graders and we talked about the word literal (adding it to our Interesting Word Wall).  We even tied in homophones and homonyms!  Talk about a teachable moment! 

Lunch was pretty interesting.  I found out this morning that after going through the line, we come back to our classroom and eat at our desks.  Previous teachers typically put in a movie for the kids to watch while they sat at their desk and ate.  I personally believe desks are for learning, not eating.  To solve this problem, we sat at the tables set up for the 7th and 8th graders when they come to our room for science/geography.  I'm in charge of lunch recess duty, and today was a little rough.  By the time we got outside after lunch, there was only about 5 minutes left.  The 7th and 8th grade boys were playing baseball and didn't want to come in.  I had to ask them at least four times, if not more, and then when they dragged themselves in from the ball field, I could hear them saying, "grumble, grumble, grumble...Mr. R (the teacher I replaced) actually let us stay outside... grumble, grumble."  Or at least, that's the part of the conversation I heard.  Well, it's only the first day of school; we'll see what tomorrow brings.

The afternoon was full of recess, God's Playbook (an anti-bullying campaign our school is starting), followed by teamwork games outside and popsicles.  And that was the end of our day!  The highlight of the day for the students was probably eating popsicles and spotting a stray baby kitty in the bushes outside.  I immediately thought of my youngest brother and his love for cats.  It was soft and fuzzy and kind of a tabby color.  One of my students brought it home with her (her mom said it was okay).  I had so many kids come up to me and ask if it could be our new school mascot!  Unfortunately, a few of our teachers have allergies and don't care for cats, so it was better she got sent home with a family.  I've been told her name is "Katniss."