Day 2 - Anticipation

We will post these by weeks.... Introduce yourself as to a first name, what grade and what subject you teach (do not include your last name or your school). And share how you are... How are you? We may want to use the teaching phases: Anticipation, Reflection, Disillusion, Survival, Rejuvenation (Know that people will be responding to your posts and offering their insights and advice.) Start with what is working? What challenges did you face this week? (classroom management, discipline, content...) What whoo-hooo celebrate a success? (about your kids, your team, your school, your own successes) What advice have you figured out?

Hello, my name is Vicky and I teach 8th grade language arts. This is my 7th year teaching and my 3rd (straight) year in this subject area. I suppose I am still in the anticipation stage after day 2 of the new school year. So far everything is running as smoothly as possible given a new schedule, new expectations, and new students.

It's hard to say what is working right now since I am still in a honeymoon period with my new students. I am waiting until about week 3 to make assumptions about what is going to work for these new students.

My challenges have been the usual ones. Since I know very little about my students I don't know which students don't need to sit near each other or who is best friends with who. I am also still trying to frantically learn names and that makes calling students down for minor behaviors tough.

My successes are that everyone seems prepared (keep in mind it is only the second day) and motivated to work on the assignments I have given. I'm excited to see how far we can go this year.

My advice at this point would be to continue thinking positive. There are, inevitably, going to be some changes and mishaps during the first week, but that is life. As I am trying to keep the million things I have to do straight in my brain, I have found that lists are my best friends. :)

Best,
Vicky