First Day of School

Here I am. Over four years ago I committed to becoming a teacher and now I'm sitting at my teacher desk on my teacher computer preparing for my first teaching day. My wife and I spent hours last week preparing for this day, we have a Welcome sign up, some affirmations, I have the Cross-cutting symbols posted all around the classroom, the desks are set up, each table has its own little bin with the school supplies. I have a lesson plan, a fun and engaging activity, a syllabus for each student. I have a pacing guide for the semester and detailed unit plans for the next month.

And I'm still freaking out.

This is the moment where things get real. In about 25 minutes, less by the time I finish this post, I will have students coming into my class for the first time. Will I make a good impression? Will the students understand what I am trying to convey with the activity? Will I be able to manage forty students for an hour? Do I have enough material? Will they like me? Will I like them?

I'm freaking out.

But I'm also excited. This could be my moment to shine. I might be able to infect them with the same hunger for knowledge that a select few of my teachers were able to give to me. I might be able to be that person in their life that makes a difference. I might realize, as I've been hoping, that I love every minute of this job.

Wish me luck.