First Day of School - Nobody Said It Would Be Easy

But Nobody Said It Would Be This Hard!

Pushing, shoving, hitting, choking, punching, standing on desks, jumping off desks, and running out of the classroom to "go home"...

I have been through a lot of training these past three months, but nothing covered a lot of the events that were to happen on my first day of school at Berry Elementary School.

I arrived woke up at 5:30am to get ready for school. I showered, shaved, ironed my clothes, and took care of the other morning necessities before rushing out the door. I felt very prepared and excited for my first day of school with students at my full time placement.

Training with my school members has gone really well over the last two weeks so I was confident that today would be a good day. I feel like we have a very good team of teachers and administrators at Berry who are committed to the students, but no matter how great your teachers are; the students may have other plans for you...

I thought I was prepared...
I arrived at school around 6:45am. My commuted had went rather smoothly. I left a little bit later than expected because on the way out the door I decided I better grab an English muffin to make sure I had enough energy for the morning. My first class didn't start till 7:30am so I took the time to make sure both my room and myself were prepared for the day.

My first class went really well. At Berry all students are served breakfast (most in their first period classrooms). I was pleasantly surprised that teachers also get breakfast at Berry! It is nothing special, but it just added about ten minutes to the amount I get to sleep each night.

By the time all of the parents had left the first grade classroom I was teaching in and all students had eaten breakfast, there wasn't much time to teach. On the first day of school it is a pretty slow start to the day. Parents are seemingly everywhere in the building. The hallways are crowded with crying students, parents trying to sneak out without their children noticing, and some parents that the students can't wait till they leave (usually in the older grades).

After first grade I was able to go back to my classroom for planning time. The first week of school I will be teaching first grade in their homeroom class to help with their adjustment to school. For some of these students, it is their first time in the school building so it can be hard on them.

9:35 is the time that fifth grade comes to my classroom. There is a big change between fifth grade and first. I spent my planning time trying to plan ahead and making sure that I didn't talk to the 5th graders like they were first graders. They are the "big kids" of the school. Fifth grade is a funny year... as the students made they way to my classroom I couldn't help but notice that most of the girls are much taller than the boys in this grade. It made me laugh to myself a little. Despite the height/maturity differences, my fifth grade class was great an behaved very well.

10:40-11:00 is my lunch time. This seems like a pretty early time to eat lunch. I wasn't really even that hungry after eating two breakfasts, but I ate anyway... I am starting to grow attached to my microwave meals. The "steamers" from Healthy Choice aren't too bad.

The afternoon was to be my downfall.

3rd grade made their way to my room at 11:10. I don't really even remember having third grade in my classroom. I am not sure if it was good or bad, but it must be good. I do remember smiling when they entered and when they left so it must be a good sign.

12:10 is the time that I would like you to stop what you are doing and say a little pray for me... this is the time that my kindergartners come to my classroom. You can pray for patience, a good classroom, some type of magic that allows students to listen to me, or whatever you would like... after today, anything would help.

"THE CLASS"

My kindergartners didn't make it to my classroom until 12:20pm. I actually went looking for them and met a frazzled teacher in the hallway, trying to heard 24 of the cutest little kids down the hallway. The first thing she said to me was, "be careful, you have a couple runners in this bunch." I wasn't sure what that meant, but I put two and two together and figured that some of her students had tried to run away from the class earlier in the day. The teacher, an assistant, and myself slowly walked the students to my classroom on the other side of the school. Once at my classroom, they wished me "good luck." They are only kindergartners, how how could it be I though...

Once the students were in my room it was just me... and 24 students that used to be really cute. I told the students to take their seats (at this age, you don't ask). About 15 of the 24 did. I was able to talk to the other students and ended up with about 19 students in their chairs. The other six moved quickly around the room exploring everything it had to offer.

A couple ran behind my desk. One immediately opened the cage to my Walking Sticks (bugs) to play with them. One had his hand in the Meal Worm cage (kinda like grub worms, used to study the life cycle). A the other two immediately began fighting over a chair. I attended to the fighters first. Who I was able to calm down, but as soon as I turned my back they were back at it. I had separated them by two desks, but that wasn't enough, the medal folding chair must have held a special place in the hearts of these two boys.

I turned back from closing the Walking Stick cage to attend to the two boys fighting... just in time to see from the corner of my eye that the students that were behind my desk now had my drawers open and were quickly filing through them. I am not sure what they were looking for, but I promise you, there is nothing fun in my file cabinets.

Once I was able to get the students out from behind my desk, the cage closed, and had almost restored the peace in my classroom I heard a statement that no teacher ever wants to hear, "Teacher, a boy is missing!" I said, "What," and began counting the students. I quickly stopped counting as I realized that if someone had left my classroom it was more important to catch them than to let them get any farther from the door. I push the "emergency button" to the office and didn't receive a response (I later found out it was broken). I then yelled to the teach whose trailer is connected to mine that they needed to watch my class.

I ran out the door and found my student running... They had made it down the ramp to my room and just to the other side of the fence. Without hesitation I pick the student up. "What are you doing?" "Where are you going?" I asked in a worried voice. The student looked right back at me and told me, "I'm going home, I have had enough of this for today." I coaxed the student into coming back to my classroom.

As I entered my room, child in my arms, I saw a student standing on top of a table just about to jump off. I looked for the next door teacher to see how this could be. She was trying to pull two boys off each other on the other side of the room. The boy jumped before I could get to him and grazed another student on his way down. The other student returned the favor by placing the jumper in a headlock, which I immediately pulled off and held the students apart.

This was my classroom, not a WWE training facility. I told the neighboring teacher that I needed to take some of these students to the office so we can try get control.

While this was happening I heard my favorite quote from the day. A kindergartener told the neighboring teacher, "I don't have to listen to you, I'm grown." (as in grown up)

I lifted up my jumper, who began to hit me on the back and knee me in the ribs. He did not want to be slowed down by his teacher. I grabbed another student by the hand and said that he needed to come with me. These two students were the main instigators of the chaos. They might not be the only ones, but it would at least help the other ones get under control.

On the way to the office I realized that I had another student that left the room when I did. He wasn't in trouble, but for some reason was following the three of us to the office. At this point I just invited him to come with because it would have been to hard to expose the two who where in trouble to the classroom again.

On the way to the office the boy who was just holding my hand managed to get away and begin running for the fence. I think he could feel that he was going to get in trouble. Luckily the fifth grade class was walking by and one of the fifth graders was able to catch him for me. (I had this student earlier in the day... he might be my new "favorite").

Once at the office the two boys continued their misbehaving. Secretly, I was kinda happy because I didn't want my principal to think I was making things up or I was just blowing things out of proportion. One student told the principal when ask what his name was that he did not have a name. The principal did not think this was funny or the fact that both boys tried to run away as soon as I let them go.

The principal sent two people down to my classroom to help settle down the chaos. It was still a zoo when we got there. It took all four of us (neighboring teacher, two administrative people, and myself) to restore order to the classroom.

Even will all of us there... it was still a struggle. They students were picked up a 1:05pm, I was relieved that they were leaving, but embarrassed at what had just taken place. I was also upset at myself for not being able to control this situation. I have very high expectations for myself and my students and today I definitely did not meet them with my kindergartners.

1:15pm start time for my preschoolers left little time rest before my preschoolers arrived. These students were adorable too, but having been tricked before I wasn't going to let them fool me. My preschool class looked and acted like angels compared to the kindergarten class I just had. They sat and attentively listened the whole class period. We were able to play games, sing songs, and overall have a great day.

At 2:00 we have a fire alarm. I still had my pre-schoolers which meant that the fire alarm would be a challenge. About half-way through class one of my students decided that he wanted his mommy and hung to me, crying in my shirt the rest of the class period. We were sitting on the floor so it wasn't that big of a deal, other than my whole right shoulder getting sopping wet. I hope he is adjusting better tomorrow because my arm is sore from holding him the whole time we were outside for the fire drill (FYI fire drills in over 95 degree weather with preschoolers and no shade is not a good time).

2:15 was the start of my last class of the day. Second grade went well aside from three girls that interrupted class to put on lip gloss. It ended up on my desk and I don't expect to see it tomorrow.

3:10 the day is over... It went very fast. I am tired and will probably be sleeping before 10:00pm tonight. 5:30am comes early and I need to be ready for another long day.

Oh yeah... I have to actually pay for that...

I am finally facing the harsh realities of working all summer and not making any money. I made it through June alright with my TeachForAmerica "relocation money," but as my mailbox begins to actually have mail in it, I am coming to the realization that you actually have to pay the money you spend on your credit cards.

I had never really used credit cards in the past so owing someone money is new to me (well other than students loans - which AmeriCorps will pay the interest on when I am in TeachForAmerica). I can't really stand paying the ridiculous interest rates associated with credit cards today so it looks like I will be tightening up my belt and watching the spending much more diligently until my first pay check arrives.

It is amazing to me how many hidden cost there are to being a teacher, especially when it is your first year. Decorations, pencils, organization tools, white board markers, ect. all of the items that could easily be taken for granted in a school that is fortunate to have resources more readily available to them. Some of my students will come to school on the first day with supplies, but more than likely most will not, and in order to begin learning on day one, I will need to provide those resources. I don't say this to complain, or to look for pity, I just wanted to bring to light the amount of extra costs that go into teaching that some may not realize.

Teachers in Houston get paid well, and I am sure I will be able to live more than comfortably on my salary. I will just need to be sure to budget in some expenses for my kids each month. Seeing how blessed I have been to be raised with a wonderful family and supportive community I have no problem picking up a couple folders and pencils here and there to make sure my kids have the same opportunity to be successful.

First Day at Berry (no students)

So much for the short lived free time... I knew it wouldn't last.

After last weeks training sessions at various Houston Independent School District (HISD) locations, this week training shifts gears.

Today was my first official day at Berry Elementary. Although there will be no students in the classrooms until the 24th, I was still anxious and nervous as I drove to school.

My schedule isn't too bad. I left for school around 7:00 am after getting ready, packing a lunch, and gathering all the materials I felt I would need for the day. Traffic was manageable, it only took me five minutes longer to get to my school than Samantha (my GPS) told me it would (the six plus lanes of traffic both ways helps with the flow I guess). I got to school and was surprised by a free breakfast in the cafeteria and greeted by many smiling faces.

All of the people at my school seem great. There are three other Teach For America (TFA) member at my school, which is comforting. I am the only TFA science lab teacher, but I met my mentor today (who also teaches science lab) and after one day, think she will really help me become a better teacher. She is really nice and willing to help me out.

After a long morning in the cafeteria for more training, I was able to go and see my classroom. I will be teaching in a "temporary classroom" (which is a trailer outside the brick and mortar school). It isn't too bad, expect that I will be teaching my students while they sit in metal folding chairs at folding tables. Encase you are wondering, I don't think this will be ideal for my younger students, especially the kindergartners. I will make it work though, at least we have chairs and tables. We are still working on getting me a computer, overhead, projector... pretty much all other supplies, but I was told that the school might be able to find some of the things that are not their. I thought it was funny when I was told I was missing my Texas flag... I have a feeling that will be the first "new" item in my classroom. :) Anyway, I am excited to have my own classroom and ready to make it a great space for my students, no matter what shortcomings it may have.

On a different note, I saw some students registering for school today. I have a feeling they were pre kindergarten or kindergarten. They were so small! They were adorable. They each looked scared to death about what they were about to get into. Clinging to their parents as mom or dad signed them up for school. They aren't even really sure what they are getting into. I am a little nervous about my youngest students. They are so small, are they going to cry? I am not sure how I am going to deal with students who have trouble adjusting to the classroom... something to add to my list of things to work on.

When I think about it... I am a lot like the little children I saw today. I am sure I walked into the school with a nervous look on my face, scared that I no idea about what I am getting into...
But fortunately for me... I signed myself up.

Training and "Free Time?!?"

The past week has consisted mainly of training. I now have training workshops not only with Teach For America (TFA), but also with the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The HISD training sessions are sometimes useful, but after an entire summer of training with TFA, many of them are as exciting as watching paint dry. You can only image how much fun it is to sit in a cafeteria for six to eight hours a day listening to someone talk about teacher assessment criteria...

Other than the necessary evil of employee and teacher training sessions I have been able to experience something new... free time! I finally have had a chance to organize my closet, cupboards, fridge ect. For those of you that know me, this was a huge accomplishment and a big step in helping to maintain my sanity. For anyone that is wondering, yes, my clothes are organised by color (and function).

With free time also comes a social life, which has been a great addition to my life here in Houston. A member of TFA had people over the other night to their rental house. It was great to see everyone outside of the "business professional" realm of training and just hang out a little.

Next week looks like it will be more of the same... training, training, training...