First Day Jitters
Excited, exhausted, anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, and nervous… these are a few of the many feelings teachers feel the night before school starts. Some of these emotions may come across as negative, but I want to create a safe, perfect, and inviting classroom (home away from home) for my students. I spend countless hours preparing and planning for the big day! This will be our "happy place" together for the next nine months. I am beginning the 26th year of my teaching career. I have taught kindergarten through fourth grade, including all subjects.
I begin each year with the book First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg. This story is about Sarah, who does not want to get out of bed on the first day of school. Mr. Hartwell begs her to get up and get ready, and Sarah pretends to be sick. At the end of the book, you are surprised to learn that Sarah is the teacher and Mr. Hartwell is her husband. She is nervous about meeting her new students. Even at year number twenty-six, I still have the "jitters" and feel like Sarah. On this first day of school, your students come into the classroom and stare at you with those sweet, innocent eyes. I want to make the first day of second grade the best day ever for my "children." After all, I am mom to them for almost eight hours a day. That first impression is very important to gain the trust, love, and respect of my kiddos.
My husband, Davy, daughter Lenzi (sophomore), and I just left a piece of our heart (Lexi) at Henderson State University for the first semester of her college career. It is my hope and prayer that she has a wonderful experience, enjoys her classes, and learns a lot of new things as she prepares to become a dermatologist.
If any of my new parents read this article, I want you to know that I have high expectations for my students. I will provide each of them with a great education and a loving environment that I want my own two daughters to receive. So here is to the best year ever, as we say every day during our morning announcements. Red Lick Elementary Rocks!
