Let's start from the beginning, the first day of the first year in first grade. I honestly can't tell you one thing I said to those 18 sets of eyes staring up at me. But I can tell you I remember one student telling me that I repeated "its okay to be nervous" a few too many times. Looking back now I get a giggle out of it. But at that moment I was the most terrified, nervous one in the room.
The first week is a blur. All I know is that I made it out-- alive. I'm not trying to suggest that my sweet first graders tried to kill me, but I will admit that I put more pressure on me than anyone of them. When you're sitting in a room alone with kids you do things much differently than you had imagined.
Finding what is important to you will help guide you in your first weeks. I realized, early on, that I wanted my students to love each other and care for one another. I rewarded them when they helped another student, I praised them when they were kind to one another and I still talk about how important it is to be honest, kind, and respectful. In that area, I feel I have somewhat succeeded. They no longer look up at me, eyes wide and mouth watering for a treat, after being kind to another student. They know that it's more important to do it when no one is looking.
Lets talk about failures. Just kidding. But seriously, at some things, you will fail. After week one I couldn't figure out why I was running out of things to do by the end of everyday. Then an administrator observed me. Yes, I was nervous, but I'm so glad she did. In her observation she wrote "you're a natural, but slow down, enjoy teaching." Those words were crucial for me to hear. Then I slowed it WAYYY down and got a lot more out of my students. It got too slow for about a week and now we're back up to just about right. Somedays we finish early, like yesterday.
Yesterday, I had my very first moment of bliss while teaching. It was the simplest thing turned awesome. My mentor told me she was going to do a picture writing prompt that week. The idea excited me so I jumped on the google and found this hilarious picture (below). I modeled writing for about 5 minutes and turned it over to the kids. We were all rolling in the floor laughing. They came up with some of the most creative reasons and things that this squirrel could be saying. One of my lower students brought tears to my eyes, he wrote "Give me back my nuts before I come down there and bite your tire." Yes, a bit weird for a six year old to say, but this child does NOT like reading or writing. Only five shared in the author share chair but the others begged all day to share their writing with the class. When we finished a few minutes early at the end of the day the others got to share. Even my painfully shy student climbed up into the chair and read aloud what she wrote.
