Week four

Week four has begun and of course I'm sick already. I can't really complain because it has been a fast progressing cold. Hopefully I will feel better in the next day or so. This week I'm trying to get all of the start of school stuff finished up. I think I'm just about done. It's also a new month next week so that brings a new snack calendar, new calendar pieces, etc. But things are going well. I can really say I love my job.

Yesterday in the full day room was really hard. I really had to get strict with the kids and they still were little pieces of work. I could barely get through a two page Bible story. But I was glad to know they were the.same way for all of the teachers and not just me. Today was much better. The kids were better behaved and we were able to even read two stories before rest time.

The big news in the school has been the lice outbreak. The entire school has been cursed with lice. We have been doing head checks every couple of days and sending home kids that had nits. It seems to finally have calmed down and hopefully that means that it will be out of our school soon!! The kids have been really funny about it though. Last week while we were in our staff meeting, the latchkey kids were playing outside and several kids were doing lice checks! Lol!! I have also been subbing in the library and had the kids write about their day and four different kids wrote about lice checks and/or putting their belongings in garbage bags. Lol!!

All in all the school year is going well. I need to start figuring out assessment and also the handwriting without tears program that we use at my school. Other than that I think it's all going well!!

Three year olds begin

My three year old class started yesterday. It actually went surprisingly well. The children had a great day and there were only 3 children who cried. Luckily they only cried for five or so minutes amd then they were fine

There are so many things you don't think of as a first year teacher!! It would have been helpful if I had sent an email with dropoff procedures or expectations before the first day. This

Update week 3

The school year is off and running. I'm loving every minute of it even though it seems like I have so much to do. I have an awesome class and awesome parents!!

There are so many things you dont think of as a first year teacher that need to be done. Luckily I'm working with an awesome group who helps.every step of the way!

I've also been subbing in the library which has given me extra hours along with experience working with older students. I like it, but I love my little kids!!

First Days and Open Houses

Tuesday was my first day with the full day kids. I was stressing because these kids started tuesday and I spent all day with them (instead of just the afternoons) and my other classroom was not set up yet for the back to school night Wednesday night. It was stressful, but big thanks to the other preschool teachers and assistants and even the principal who stepped it up and helped me out! Everyone listened to my thoughts and fears about the classroom and helped me to find an arrangement that I liked. Hopefully the kids like it too!

This morning was the open house for my three year old class. I was excited to get to see the kids again and to have them see the classroom that I've put my blood, sweat, and tears into :-) It went AWESOME! The kids jumped right in and started playing with one another and they were exploring the classroom and enjoying every minute! The parents all just kind of stood around the room and talked to one another while the children played. There was only one child who was very hesitant and she even warmed up by the end of it. This open house was supposed to last a half hour, but my kids ended up staying for almost an hour and they were crying because they didn't want to leave! Hopefully this carries over to the first day of school when Mom and Dad leave them with me for the morning!!

I can't wait for Tuesday. It's the first day for my three year olds. I think it's going to go well. I don't have high expectations of getting through everything I want to get through, but I do have plans and I am ready to attempt to implement them! I'm getting nervous though! There is so much to worry about that I never even thought of!

Today was also the first day I took over some of the duties in the full day room to release the other head teacher to fill other obligations. It was a bit rough at first and the children kept asking what my name was. But within five minutes they were all yelling my name and talking to me. They settled down and we got through what we needed to get through before we had a great rest time! All but three of the children slept today :-) We were lucky, I know it won't always be that way!

So far everything is going great. I have so much to do and so many checklists and to do lists. But I will get through it all and I'm so lucky to have the teachers I have by my side to help me through it all!

Meet and Greets and Orientation

August 30

Today was my second day of working in the classrooms and more meet the teacher and parent orientation events. This morning was meet the teacher at the park. I loved this event because what kid doesn't love the park? Plus it gave parents a chance to meet each other and the teachers in a low key relaxed environment. The only thing that might be better would be nametags or maybe wearing school apparel or something to distinguish teachers from parents, or maybe a color per class?

The rest of the day was spent setting up the full day room and getting it ready for the full day open house. This was luckily not too bad it was all of the small things that needed to be done. Organization is definitely key in teaching and preping the classroom! This is when I really started thinking about how this is the beginning and how I really have to do it on my own. I need to find songs to sing, activities to do, and stories to read. I get to plan everyday and I'm in charge of implementation! I started to really get nervous about this!! I have been working towards this for four years and it's finally here.

The evening was spent meeting the children and more parents at the full day open house and parent orientation for my other class. The open house was great! The children got to see the room, meet the teachers, and play with the other kids, but to still feel safe with their parents there. The kids dove right in and they were all talking with me quickly, which was a good feeling being the new teacher!! We thought quickly and started snapping pictures of the kids for their nametags and stuff too so we will be ready to go!!

Tonight's orientation went well too. The parents were so awesome and introduced themselves and wished me luck and welcomed me. It was great and I feel like this is going to be a great place for me. Everyone seems so awesome and welcoming. I'm so excited and hope this is a great start to a great year!!!

Contracts

August 23rd:

I finally signed a contract, it was a new experience for me. I thought this would have happened closer to the actual day they offered me the job. It was alot of paper work, but it's done. I thought it would be a bigger deal, you know like we sit there and sign and go through stuff together, but really I just sat at a table and worked through my paper work. I guess signing a contract really isn't that big of a deal!

Tuesday night was parent orientation for one of my classes. I pretty much just stood and looked pretty. :-) I wonder what the parents think when their child is in a class with a brand new teacher. I've had tons of experience teaching, but this is my first real job. I will be doing it all on my own. It's finally my time to shine...I wonder where to go from here...