Quiet beginnings

The first full week of school is over already? It just sort of slid right by. I feel so relaxed and rested!

The week started out very quiet! It was so odd for me when the students walked in in the morning and took break barely making any noise at all! I found myself almost saying, "You can talk to each other." But then I figured I'd enjoy the quiet, and they'd eventually warm up and need to be reminded to be quiet. I was right. By the end of the week, there was much more chatter going on! :) But I have a feeling they'll continue to surprise me. Like today when I assigned a Math worksheet before break and said I'd give them time after break to work on it, but that it wouldn't be homework. "Can't we work on it during break?" they asked. Wow.

However, I was a little concerned when the first homework assignment was due on Wednesday and already 2 out of my 12 students didn't have it done! On the bright side, my new homework log was not made in vain!

I thought, "Oh boy, it must be time for the responsibility lesson." But since then, everyone has handed in their homework every day! They must be adjusting to third grade!

Although there's not so many crazy things happening in my classroom every day like last year (ergo the rested and relaxed state I'm in ;) ), the students still amuse me with random comments. When they found out I went to school with another teacher they know, one said, "I didn't know you go that far back!" And when another teacher walked into our room one day, someone said to her, "You look bigger than last year!" (She doesn't, by the way!)

I already received several encouraging notes from parents of my students. It's so amazing knowing that they are entrusting their children to me and that I have their support! So after this first wonderful week of school, I am just really looking forward to all that the year will bring and spending time with and getting to know each student in my small class!

Goodbye summer! Hello school!

I can already tell this is going to be a fun year. My students were talkative and happy and cooperative!

I had to smile inside when I found myself - within the first half hour of school - saying things like, "Please walk!" "Raise your hand if you have something to say." "Keep your hands to yourself!" They must forget this stuff over the summer. So we said goodbye to summer and hello to school!

We each wrote something we liked about the summer and something we're looking forward to in the school year. (Also Pinterest-inspired!) Most of them are looking forward to things like "field trips," "friends" and "gym," which are all good things to be excited about. But I was thrilled to also see "times" (multiplication), "handwriting," and "Book-It"!

I think I'll have some helpful little teachers this year as well. One boy, looking at the schedule, kept asking questions like, "Is it time for break yet?" "When is our treasure hunt?" At one point I said,  "You have to be patient." Another student turned around and said to him, "Patience is a virtue." Indeed. I think that was my favorite moment of the day. :) Looking forward to many more!

Ready or not, here they come!

Wow, wasn't it just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my students? Now tomorrow I'll be saying hello to a whole new batch! (Is it okay to group students in "batches"?)

What a refreshing summer it's been, though! I am blessed to be able to say I feel recovered, refreshed, and re-energized! And this year I look forward to having 12 students instead of 25! What a change that will be!

My classroom proves that I've had plenty of time to browse Pinterest this summer. :)

One quick story (a reminder of how much I'll miss last year's students!):
Those of you who know me well know that it would appear I have a bladder the size of a pea, seeing as I need to "use the facilities" quite frequently. Therefore, I plan my bathroom trips carefully on days at school. A parent of one of my students from last year told me that a couple of weeks ago at dinner one night, he randomly said, "My teacher never had to go to the bathroom last year!" HA! You have to wonder what thought process triggered that thought to pop into his head!

I'm excited for another entertaining year and all that it will hold! (Although I can't promise you the same caliber of stories as last year!)