Ah, it's been a while. What a difference a good solid block of do-nothing time makes! I didn't do anything this summer. Or, rather, I did all the stuff that I didn't get to do during the school year: slept in, exercised, caught up with friends, tested out my awesome new camera. At the same time, however, I reflected deeply on last year's multitude of challenges and how I wanted this year to be better. Looking back I realize how unprepared I was to run a classroom. I don't blame anyone for this. I needed to struggle through the experience. Let's just say I am now an expert on how NOT to run a class.
Reflection is mighty dandy, and something I excel at, but when it came down to it I needed a plan. I needed to be clear in my mind about how to set up my classroom for student success (and less teacher stress). I started writing down all my classroom procedures. I thought about all the things my students struggled with last year (standing in a line, entering the room quietly) and how I was going to deal with that. For this process, I used Harry Wong's book as a guide.
I started out the process with some trepidation. Last year was exhausting and frustrating on every level. Last year lots of people saw me struggling and tried to help me. Looking back I am so thankful to Orchid. She had so much to do, yet she found the time in her schedule to show up in my room to help.
But I had a rather existentialist realization: I am alone in my class -- I am the only person who can make my classroom work. Other people can help, but it's really all up to me what my classroom looks like. A little scary, but empowering, too.
Fast forward to this Tuesday. The principal called and asked if I could come to her office to chat. She asked if I would be interested in leaving the classroom for my DREAM JOB. Two years ago I had the fortune to do my dream job and loved every day of it. I said yes, and today even went as far as to move my personal stuff out of my room.
Turns out that I was a little premature in doing so. The principal said today that I might have to start the year in the classroom. Very frustrating, to say the least. I'm thinking that she didn't do all her homework and offered me the job when in reality there is a process to be gone through. UUURGH. : /
So now I don't quite know what to plan for. Should I go ahead and buy those supplies I'll need to run my class smoothly? It's hard for me to even describe right now how disappointed I am -- to have my dream job presented as an option, then have it snatched away. Going to put off the supply-buying for a few days, but this weekend I'll have to get my brain back to classroom mode.
