Some could say I am verifiably crazy. For the past almost three weeks now I voluntarily shut my self into a small room with 21 six year olds. This at first caused me to wonder if I truly did have a screw loose. This is beyond babysitting and beyond daycare. And I thought I was ready for my first day of first grade. Ha! I went into the day with my head held high, a smile on my face and the naivety that I was ready! At the end of that first day of first grade I was literally limping (heals are no longer my good friend). I was beyond overwhelmed, felt like I had been blind-sighted, and had a whole new respect for those who are teachers.
Now two and a half weeks into my new dream job, I have asked myself at least twice if teaching is really what I want to do. I have also wondered in complete disbelief what anyone was thinking that ever told me I would make a great teacher. And I have stood in my classroom at the end of the day and thought holy cow was that a whole day?
I am told it gets better and that eventually my sweet little students will learn what it means to be a big first grader. And that they WILL learm how to be on a zero, that a first grader does not pull their pants down before getting all the way into the bathroom, that raising your hand and answering my math question with either the statement of "I have to go potty." or "When is lunch?" is not acceptable.
As cute as my little six year olds can be, they wear me out. I have heard every reason in first grade medical terminology as to why the need to go the nurse. And how the REALLY need to go to the bathroom after having just been as a whole class not 5 minutes earlier. Today we practiced how to come to our carpet not less than 10 times. I have several students who I have decided are simply imitating 6 year olds and are really clones of the energizer bunny. Webster's Dictionary needs to rethink its definition of exhausted. It's writers need to come spend a week in the life of a first year teacher.
Needless to say I have learned valuable lessons from my students. For instance, one can never ask too many questions. Unless it is be about lunch and then the rule changes. Lockers ARE AWESOME and must be gotten into at least 30 times a day. Walking laps as a consequence is actually really fun but its probably better not to tell the teacher. And last but definitely not least. A bouquet of flowery weeds are now my favorite flower.
So in the words of our team shirts....Kindergarten is soooo last year.... First Grade ROCKS!!!!!