It’s Day 68 +2 and I am back to school. My first day back was Monday and my new students arrive tomorrow on Thursday. I am excited and nervous, and I am certain they are too.
I woke early Monday morning, much earlier than I was accustomed to over break. I sat outside listening to the birds’ chirp while sipping coffee and working through my morning routine. I realized that the sun rose after 6 AM and it was similar to the final sunset after 8 PM or later a few days ago, this was the last time until next spring that sun rise before 6 in the morning. Summer is winding down and being back in school is a sure sign that summer’s days are waning.
Yesterday we had meet and greets for a few students to come into school, meet their teachers, and find their classrooms. It was exciting to meet them and hopefully I will remember them on Thursday when they sit up front as a suggested. I made notes before I left school of whom I met. I am excited and I am sure they are, too.
Monday morning, I arrived early, before the meetings began, I opened the packages that arrived last week. The contents are in the photo below – they are games I am going to use to help develop science skills – observation, classification, evidence, claims and reasoning.
“In the summer, we write life’s summary with the slow waves of love flowing over the sandy beach. The slow breeze and the warm sun write our memories.”
― Debasish Mridha
I only have 5 photos for this final summer days post and there is a decided ‘lake’ theme to four of the five. It was my last weekend at the lake and until we put it all away over Labor Day weekend. I was fueling my car at BP station when I captured the photograph of the jet contrails crisscrossing the sky for my final Summer Days photo.
Each Wednesday I had seven unique photos to share to chronicle the previous week. It was a fun project and I’ll admit there were a couple of days when I almost posted a black screen with text that read – writer’s block or photographer’s block – but I was able to come up with a photograph that captured the essence of the day. I enjoyed being creative and now I’ll shift my creativity back to my W^2 or Wordless Wednesdays beginning next week.
The school year always makes writing challenging but I am going to work to continue writing a narrative post at least once each month. I’ve enjoyed being creative and sharing that there are so many ways to make the days count, make them worthwhile, make them memorable, and be able to share them with others.
My daughter sent the photo below on here way home from the lake. She begins college in exactly two weeks. I am excited for her as I remember the feeling of going away to college some 4 decades ago. I suppose that could be my quote for the day, but I’ll double dip and stick with Debasish Mridha’s musings about summer as the lead.
Today at school is a workday which means I get to choose what I do – no meetings – only time for me to do what I need to do to prepare for the first day of school and lay the foundation for the 171 days to follow. It’s a marathon and I’ll need to pace myself.
It’s gonna be a great day, different from the past 68 days of summer break, but it will be a great day. So, I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, getting back in the groove.
How’s your summer groove?
I wish I was going to be one of your students. I just bet you’re an awesome teacher!! (I’d sit in the front too.)
Enjoy your new crop of students. May they prosper and grow!!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Thank you. I would love to have you in class. We all can learn from each other, like your tap dancing. I am not much of a dancer, never have been. i think it gets back to I am worried what others are thinking about how uncoordinated I am. The truth is, I should worry less about what others think because what I think is what really matter. You are going to have an amazing week. Stay safe and well. Peace.
My sister in Scotland also went back this week and like you, she was excited to see her students again. It’s wonderful that you still have that excitement. My other sister, in England, still has a couple of weeks to go of holidays. We were a family of teachers! Hope your early days in school with the students go well and bring you joy.
Thank you. I was exhausted on Thursday and Friday afternoon, I fell asleep on the couch Friday afternoon! The first days went well and I am looking forward to the week ahead. Good luck to your sister and her new classes. I have found that I learn more my students than they do from me. Stay tuned and have a wonderful week. Peace.
A happy autumn term to you and your students! You’ll certainly make their days count.
Thank you. you know I am going to my best foot forward. I am hoping you have an amazing week! Peace.
I love that you’re excited and nervous about the first day with students! I never thought about how the teacher might feel (unless, when I was in grad school for the 2nd time) the teacher was new and obviously nervous. But to think a seasoned teacher has feelings too…that would never have occured to the student me back in the 70s.
Good luck with this year’s students. I hope you have a wonderful time with them. I think you are a pretty amazing teacher, one I would have enjoyed back in the day. Your kids are lucky to have you.
Thank you. First days are always a challenge. AND it went well. I am sure there are a few students who are on the fence, but it felt all in by Friday. We can do this. that’s what made me smile, truly. And when I am done replying to comments on my blog I am hopping out into the world to share my happiness! Have a great week, Peace.