I taught middle school science for seven years. I loved my job! I loved the kids! I loved my co-workers! I loved teaching! I miss my job. I miss the kids, my co-workers, and teaching. I've been out of the classroom for 1 year. Today is the first day of school and if I were teaching I would be getting acquainted with 120 new to middle school 6th grade girls and boys.
The first day jitters run through both kids and teachers. I guess after 7 years in the classroom it isn't the same nervous jitters as much as excitement. The shiny polished floors will quickly become scuffed, the graded papers will pile up waiting to be returned, the brand new pencils and binders will be quickly broken in, and it will be like I've known these kids for years even when just a few weeks have passed.
One of my favorite beginning of the year traditions was not giving assigned seats. It made learning names of all 120 kids a challenge but I learned so much more, much more quickly. What is the first thing you do when you walk into a new place, like a classroom? You scan the room quickly looking for a familiar face or two and seat yourself as close to them as possible. I let the kids pick their seats for the first week of class - so they can find these comfortable faces, plus it shows me something extremely valuable that I will use throughout the year. I quickly learn who can handle sitting next to their friends and who cannot. Those who can't keep quiet or want to show off for their friends are quick to find this first week and when I do make my seating chart, I seat them very far apart! :) I miss those little teacher tricks.
What am I doing instead of teaching 120 6th graders? I'm staying home with two of the most valuable things God has ever trusted me with. I am a stay-at-home mom! I love being home with my boys! I love the flexibility in our schedule! I love the slower pace life now has! I love being able to watch them learn, grow, and develop! I love the extra time and hugs! I love the battle a 3 year old brings! I love how I know them better than anybody else! I love that I am getting a chance to be at home with my boys! There will always be a classroom full of kids to teach, but my boys will only be young once.
Loving both teaching and staying at home I find it hard to say good-bye. School starting today was like saying good-bye to something I love all over again. Being home today and thinking about one day returning to the classroom is like saying good-bye as well. Either way I'm leaving something I love but gaining something I love. We will see what this next year brings.
No comments:
Post a Comment