Finally, I have students

I began working on November 5th, with the intention to get a class that Thursday, November 8th. At that time, I was planning to teach 7th grade science and math. Those plans were then threw out, and I was told I will actually be teaching 8th grade math and 7th grade science....Okay...No problem. So, I made arrangements with other teachers, got their plan books and made copies for my updated schedule.

Simultaneously, as I was getting my room decorated and organized, the administration was in the process of hiring a new Language Arts teacher. The staff underestimated the number of students who would be entering the 7th grade this year, and many teachers had more than 32 kids in their classes. At my school, 29 students is considered "at capacity." Any more and the job of "Teacher" gets even more difficult. Anyways, over the month, there have been many changes, even to faculty who began the school year with students. Due to all these switches, I did not get any classes until this past Monday, November 26th! Yes, I spent almost a whole month getting ultra-organized for my classes and decorating the crap out of my room.

I took some before and after pictures of my room, so you can see the transformation.

It has been 3 days with students in my classroom, and I am still working out all the kinks. I have decided to change the desk arrangement to straight rows facing the overhead. Although I like how these desk arrangement now enables kids to discuss ideas with each other and share, I cannot maneuver swiftly through the room, and middle-schoolers can be squirrely. I need to be able to assess student work, and eliminate distractions. Right now, my kiddies can pass notes, have off-topic conversations, and avoid me pretty well, since I cannot walk in between their desk-groups easily. I think straight rows will allow me the room to walk, and they will still have table partners to discuss ideas with.

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Since I didn't have students yet, I didn't have much to share...and I kept forgetting to take "after" photos of my room ;-)

T-minus 21 hours and 10 minutes

I officially start my new teaching job tomorrow, Monday November 5, 2012. Although I won't have students in my classroom until Thursday, I am still very excited and super nervous...though many teacher-friends have told me that "you would be crazy not to be feeling that way." Confidence restored!

My journey up to accepting this position has been frustrating. After applying to jobs up and down the I-5 corridor in Washington state for the last 4 months, and not getting any interviews, I was beginning to think something was wrong with me! The job climate in Washington is tense for educators; jobs are limited, thus very competitive. When a position was added at the middle school where I student-taught, I applied immediately and then the waiting game began all over again. I was called for an interview 2 weeks ago, which went well despite my nerves, and got the offer a few days ago...talk about a rush! I will have 3 science classes, and 2 math classes.

So over the weekend, I have been planning like crazy and buying lots of supplies for my new room. I hit up JoAnne's, Target, and The Dollar Tree for the things I need. There are still some classroom necessities I want, but am holding off until I get the things I have up in the room. I have so many ideas for classroom decorations and organization from The School Supply Addict. Hopefully the vision I have in my head will come into fruition as I start the process tomorrow.

For now, wish me luck. Have any advice for a first day get-to-know-you activity? I would love to hear from you! I don't want to bog the students down with too many rules and expectations right away...