Week One.

Week one done. Well... let's be honest, "week one" was only a day and a half with students, but it could have fooled me. A new schedule with a million glitches, new students, new parents, starting up a new writing workshop, inservices, fire drills, arranging and re-arranging my room all made the first week feel like the first month. I went into this school year knowing that some things were going to be tricky in the beginning; I thought I had gotten all zen-like and prepared myself to proceed accordingly. The best laid plans... Both days of inservice left me stressed out to the point of being angry, and I found all the little things getting under my skin and making me feel stupid (twice). So, I am not going to lie, it has been a rough start to the school year. Before the kids came on Thursday, I was lying in the fetal position on the couch in the staff kitchen moaning about how I wasn't ready and I just needed some more time. I somehow mustered the courage to walk out the door, and I am glad that I did. On the first day of school, juniors became seniors, sophomores became juniors, and new students asked for hugs (twice). Things are never as bad as they seem they are going to be (this will be my mantra). As I drove away on Friday, I thought about the things I will get to do with my students this year. I thought of the books they will read, the conversations we will have, the writing they will do, all the things they will create that will show that they are young and growing people. It made me so excited. Even if it has been a rough start, I love teaching and I am excited to really get down to it. This weekend I got caught up on some planning, spent time with friends, and ate turkey with some of my co-workers. I work with some amazing people, and if it is going to be a rough start or a rough year or both, I am glad to know I have people who love, trust, and challenge me in my corner. It is now late night on Labor Day (10 PM is late for this girl), and I will start my first day of working on the new school tomorrow. More to come on all of these things.