Getting Ready for the School Year

The summer is coming to an end and my second year as a teacher is about to begin.  Already I am noticing differences from this time last year.

I’m talking a lot more this year

I have been working with my grade level team a lot this week and I am discovering that I suddenly have a lot more to say!  Last year I was really quiet.  I spent most of the grade level meetings either listening or asking the occasional question, but this year I feel like I’m actually contributing.

I am confident sharing my ideas because I know my opinion is valued by my team members.  I know that I can ask questions, make suggestions, or disagree with something, and it will all be listened to and considered.  My opinions actually have the same weight as the more experienced teachers.  These meetings are making me feel very lucky to be a teacher at my school with my coworkers!

The big difference from last year is that this year I have a sense of what the entire year is going to look like.  I know where we’re headed so I feel safe making suggestions about how to get there.  I can already tell that this year will be a really good one.

I’m prepping my room in a purposeful way

My classroom is coming together well.  I’m working just as hard as last year, but this year it’s all work with a purpose.  This year I know how I want stuff organized.

Looking back at last year, I know I wasted a lot of time simply because I didn’t know what to do with everything.  I had a hard time making decisions and changed my mind a lot.

This year I sat down and made a long to do list of specific tasks.  I have slowly been checking things off.  When I’m in my room I am able to focus on a specific job instead of being overwhelmed and flitting from task to task.

I’m so excited!

The more work I do the more excited I get about the first day of school!  Between the long term planning time with my grade level and the ever increasing organization of my room, I am feeling extremely optimistic about this upcoming year.

I can’t wait to meet my students and start off the year.  I want a chance to practice and refine all of the changes I thought about last year and over this summer.  This year is going to be so much better, and I can’t wait for it to start.