As I write this post, schools have only been in session for a short time, and most students and teachers have recently experienced the first day of school. Here’s some insight into what teachers are thinking (at least I am!) at the beginning of the school year.
Have I relaxed enough/am I refreshed enough?
Teachers want to feel good going into the year so that we can start the school year with energy, patience, and the ability to support all children’s needs. We truly want what is best for your child and know that we cannot give your child our best if we are still burnt out or tired from the previous year.
What will my new students be like?
We know one student can greatly impact a class’s dynamic (positively or negatively!) and our time together. Knowing that I will meet 100+ students during my first week, I learn what I can about my students during the first couple of weeks and appreciate all the elementary teachers who cheerily meet and greet the elementary students at back-to-school night before school begins.
Do I really have to watch that again?
Every year, I have to watch professional development training online. These videos include but are not limited to the following: sex trafficking, homelessness, blood-borne pathogens, and child abuse. Luckily we can test out of certain sessions, but these 2+ hours always weigh on me because 1) they are required and 2) they remind me of the significant responsibilities I have to my students that have nothing to do with the content I teach. As a teacher, I take those responsibilities seriously.
Am I ready? The answer is “YES!” I can’t wait to meet my students. Once everything is physically set up, the Canvas courses published, the copies made, the class lists checked, and the seating charts created, I am excited to meet the reasons behind everything I am doing: my students. There is nothing like the first day of school.
