The first day of school is just around the corner...

Before I visited my new classroom, I had the worst anxiety. I always get anxiety whenever I move to a brand new classroom, because it brings me back to my first year of teaching (at a start-up charter school) where I had to start from the ground up, literally. It's like a first time home owner making a completely empty room more livable with just a few things to start off with. As a new teacher, I haven't really collected as many teaching supplies as, say, my mom, who's been teaching for more than 20 years. So, stepping into my new classroom at my new place of employment was nothing short of a jelly leg experience.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the previous teacher left most of her classroom supplies for the next teacher (moi!) to enjoy! Her cabinets were filled from top to bottom with basic classroom needs, plus a few extras. Her bookshelves were complete with teacher resources and third grade literature. The classroom was clean, organized, and all it really needed was decorating and technology.

My new school isn't so new -- it's actually been around for so many years, even way before I was born. The only two things that needed some work were my low functioning sink with faucet and drinking fountain, and technology. Our lovely custodian, Mr. H, was able to successfully fix the pressure in the faucet, although the drinking fountain still didn't work. I didn't mind that at all, it just meant we had to have water fountain breaks within the day, so students can regularly fill up their water bottles or quench their thirst using the water fountain in the hallway.

Then, I tackled technology. This was probably the most challenging task I had to complete and the first thing I decided to tackle before anything else, because I knew it was going to be a big pain. And it was. I had four student desktop computers, all of which were still running on Windows XP, which makes everything run so slow and prone to viruses. I'm going to send out a help desk ticket for that tomorrow. I also have to replace two keyboards that aren't working at all, which is fine because Mr. H told me storage had a bunch of keyboards to replace them anyway.

The only other thing besides updating the Windows software, is for me to find a teacher's computer. Yes, the classroom didn't come with it. Apparently, the previous teacher used a laptop and had to turn it in when she left. The principal had me try out her old laptop, which didn't work (it also ran on Windows XP, by the way!). So, I'm still waiting for my new work laptop, which is kind of making me a little bit anxious because I use technology every single day for my lessons.

Anyway, I'm sure it will all work out. I have a wonderful principal who is so helpful and kind. I have a great team of 3rd grade teachers to work with, and that includes my mom! The other teachers I've met so far are all incredibly nice and welcoming. I feel quite blessed to be here.

My class web page and teacher blog (sponsored by our district) are almost set up; I just have to add parent members so they can easily access them at home. Other than that, all I have to do, really, is to decorate my classroom! Looking back at what I've written so far, it seems like I still have so much to do, but I'm not worried. Summer break was great, and I wish it didn't have to end so soon, but there's something very exciting about the first day of school as well. I'm ready!