A New School Year

As I stepped into my classroom the week before the students began school, I felt a little overwhelmed thinking about another school year, and nervous about the thoughts of meeting a new class again. My teacher and I began to discuss procedures and plans for the first days of school, leaving me feeling extremely anxious and concerned that I may not think of everything I need to think of when it's my turn to start from scratch.

However, that first day when we went to the bus room to pick up our class, those nerves went away, and I felt more calm than I ever had before. It seems odd to me how quickly all that anxiety can disappear, just by being in the classroom before the students. Normally, as a preservice teacher, we walk into an established classroom full of students with a known routine. Rather than watching those kids walk in, we walk in to find about fifty eyes staring at us! I have to completely agree that being at school that first day is a completely invaluable experience.

Now that we've been in school two weeks, I'm starting to put more into meeting deadlines, and making lessons interesting than being nervous around the students. Being in that classroom ahead of time really helped with having confidence in one's practice and relationship with students. Rather than being concerned with how much the students "like" me and whether or not they act bored when I teach, I am now concerned with ensuring they get what they need in an effective way. So far, I feel like this has been the best semester yet. I look forward to being in the classroom every day and feel certain this is what I want as a career.