I haven’t set foot in my classroom since school ended in June! I haven’t opened up any of the boxes of stuff that I ordered at the end of last year, and I can’t even remember WHAT I ordered! There are two days of teacher workshops at the end of August, but the kids don’t come back until after Labor Day. Everyone was telling me, well warning me rather, about the nightmare that this next group of kids is. I don’t know…I’m going to try to hold off judgement until I actually have them in my classroom! Kids change a lot in the summer before 5th grade, anyway. Maybe they’ll grow up! And maybe I can be the one to help them get “on track.”
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I understand your stress. I also have not been to my school since I left last June and I had left in a rush. I will go tomorrow and face the disaster.
I think it is good to try and not judge the class before you meet them and I agree they do mature a lot over the summer. My only suggestion to seek help early if it ends up being as hard as people say. I had a class like that 2 years ago and it was by far the hardest year for me. The biggest thing that got me through was the support of my colleagues.
I taught fifth grade for four years and loved it! They are my favorite age to teach. I think it is wise of you to wait and see for yourself how your students are. You’re right, they do change and mature. Also, you having a different personality from their previous teacher might help them relate differently to you. Or maybe what everyone is telling you is accurate, and you will be the one to turn them around. I can’t believe I already go back to school on Monday (18th) and the kids start Wednesday (20th).
Hey Allison,
Thanks for the comment to my post about websites. I would have emailed you back, but I couldn’t find your email.
I’m one of those people that if he wants to learn it, he will…to a point. I got it figured out now for the most part. I actually did the assignment with Nvu, but I found that to be a little tedious. So for my final, I’m going to continue my Web site, but I have switched over to Microsoft Publisher, just to try it out. It’s a ton easier than Nvu, but it also comes with its quirks. It’s frustrating, but fun to work with Web editing.
Good luck unpacking the boxes! I envy you for having all that time off from school. With my current job in Korea, I have just 2 weeks off in the summer. This is my 2nd of the 2 weeks I have off and then next Monday I am back. I will finish teaching in Korea in January, but perhaps sooner as there is a new visa requirement here which is difficult for me to follow through with in time. I’m sure it will work out though. I wouldn’t mind coming back sooner though.
I hope your project is going well and good luck to the start of your new year!
Damon