Made it to May (almost)

Hard to believe it's almost May. It's bizarre how parts of this year sped by while random weeks seem to move in slow motion.
I'm super excited for this summer. Haven't really had a "real" summer since before starting grad school so it's nice to know there's one waiting for me.
Lately I've been thinking a ton about this whole life as a teacher thing...hence the title of this blog. If I end up teaching for decades, it'll be so strange to look back to this moment and remember my very first year. The one where it all began. I've heard that after you've been teaching for years, the classes, the students, and the months seem to blur, but the first and last years you never forget. They manage to somehow dodge the fog. I hope that happens with this year. I want to remember the laughs. The cries. Those moments where I thought I was at the end of my rope and then looked down to realize there was actually some slack left. Most importantly were those recurring points in time where I'd remind myself "this is why! That laugh, that comment, that student ah-ha moment. That's why you chose this seemingly chaotic yet insanely fulfilling career for yourself." I hope you feel this way too your first year. Even if it's just on occasion. Pinky promise it makes it all worth it.

Welp, guess I'll end this post with the cutest thing I've seen on pinterest today:

What keeps me going

This week we finished the science fair and parent conferences (whoa, what a week!)
Feeling pretty stoked right now.
A few days ago I was asking myself "how are you going to do this?" But I survived. If you're wondering how a highly distraught individual like myself made it, here's how:
I have all the supports I need to get me through weeks like this one.

Let's start with something that I hope you too get your first year of teaching. I call them amazing classroom parents.
That's what I got and holy smokes am I grateful for it. They've made this year such a pleasure and their smiles and genuine thank yous are so appreciated. I had one mom create an adorable outfit for our class moose. Another parent gave our class a brand new CD player after he heard that our old one was skipping. These parents make amazing chaperones and bulletin board designers. Their gratitude and involvement is simply uplifting.

I am also incredibly lucky (and not ashamed to say) that my parents didn't boot me out of the house after I finished school. Living at home this year has been sah-weet. Thanks, Ema and Aba!
Plus, my mom is a teacher too. I wish I could express how amazing she's been. Unfortunately, there are no words that could really articulate how lucky I am for all the lesson ideas, teaching tips, and middle eastern meals she's so good at cheering me up with. 

When I'm stressed out, I get these ridiculous migraines. Literally feels like sharp knives are jabbing at my skull. I had one this week and my amazing staff made and delivered me a cup of coffee. Caffeine is magical because the migraine shriveled away faster than it usually does. So yes, not to brag, but for a first year teacher, I'm pretty freaking lucky to have the best staff in the world. Not only that, but every ounce of advice I've gotten from them has worked.

I also have my boyfriend to vent to when needed. And he always listens. I don't know why he puts up with it, but he does. Thanks, pookie. I love you.

Sorry this isn't exactly advice. More like things you should pray for your first year lead teaching. It's hard dealing with everything on your own, so if you can find at least one person to keep you going, especially when all you really want to do is hide under the covers and sleep for a few months, keep your chin up and remember you're not alone in this.

"I Make Art"

I'm too tired and slightly overwhelmed so no time for a real post today. BUT my amazing little sister showed me this video and thought you might enjoy it too:

 

The students have been singing "I'm sexy and I know it" all week long which is why, believe it or not, I'd actually prefer to get this version stuck in their noggins instead! Not a huge fan of LMFAO. Elmo actually sings it better if you ask me :)

Soap + Water

Today one of my students was eating a ritz cracker while telling me a story about her vacation (not gonna lie to you, it sounded like she had a pretty sweet time). Anyway, mid-sentence she let out a sneeze that, I kid you not, landed all over every possible part of the front of my shirt. There were bits of cracker EVERYWHERE. It was so gross and yet so funny. I saw the stream of chewed up cracker as it flew at me but let's face it...with my luck and slow reflexes, dodging the attack was hopeless. Normally, I'd follow that monstrous achoo up with a chipper friendly reminder (something along the lines of: "Oopsie, remember to sneeze into your elbow next time!") but the situation was just too hilarious. When she saw my eyes slowly make their way down to the swamp on my shirt she let out a very distressed "I'm so sorry!" She was so adorable about it that I just had to let out a giggle and then fake a smile as I attempted to brush the cracker boogers away.

Last year and this year I was warned many a time that during your first years of teaching you get sick...a lot. Not because of the stress, or the lack of sleep, or the newness of it all. It's actually because your immune system is still weak and pathetic and has not yet experienced 3+ years of teaching.
My advice for you, teacher newbies, is to wash your hands as much as you possibly can. I swear I don't have hand washing OCD, and well, if I did, lucky for me, I have a sink right in the classroom. Anti-bac is great but wont suffice. You need good ol' soap and water. Once you've entered the germzone that is your classroom, never, I repeat NEVER, eat anything unless you've washed your hands first. I don't care how desperately hungry you are. Once you've touched that chocolate chip cookie, the germs are on it and in it and there's a crazy chance you'll get sick shortly after. Happy washing.

The last day of vacation.

April 16th. Happy birthday, Dad!
We had a BBQ this afternoon and it was yumazing. It was also 90 degrees and wearing shorts reminded me that my pale legs have seen better days/months.
Speaking of warm weather, if your school does not have AC (mine does not, so if you're in the same boat I feel for you), there are ways to make life less sweaty for you and your students!
1. Get a spray bottle and fill it with cold water. If you can get one of those bottles that has a fan at the end so the water comes out misty that would be splendid. If you can't afford that, a dollar store spray bottle will do just fine. After coming in from recess, transitioning to a lesson, before snack, if it seems the munchkins need a movement break...spray your kids! Make sure to ask each one of them if it's okay before you spray. For some reason, they love it and the water really cools them down.
2. Get FANS for your room.
3. Popsicles. I haven't tried this one yet, but doesn't it sound like a great idea?

September can be pretty uncomfortable heat-wise and May-June can get rather brutal as well. It's not fun to teach or to learn when all you really want is to be sitting in an igloo. Do what you can to make you, your classroom, and your kiddos cooler.

So today happens to also be the last day of vacation.
With all the vacations we've had so far this year, the day before going back to school I get slightly uneasy (mainly with making sure I have everything prepared and getting myself as psyched up as I can for the week). This happened to me last year at grad school as well, so I don't think it's a first year teacher thing. Guessing it's more of a "holy shnikeys, I'm no longer in the safety of my undergrad bubble?! How did this happen?" kind of thing. To describe this odd feeling, it's kind of like, on Sunday nights or during those last, precious moments of vacation, I try to soak it all in. Prepare for whatever is to come during the school week. It's an unnerving feeling. From ages 0-22 I never experienced it. So the last year and a half of this nonsense is/was getting to me.

However, I'm proud to say that we go back to school tomorrow, since April vacation ends today, and I'm NOT feeling as anxious as I had in the past. Not entirely sure why this is...but I'll take it.
 

What you gon' do with all that junk?

Didn't feel like being productive..so thought I'd blog instead.
Guess I'll move us right along to some other thangs I wish I'd known before this year took off.
Next on the agenda: Get rid of that stuff you don't need.
Don't be afraid to throw away or donate your classroom junk. If there's stuff in there that you don't need, give it the boot! Plus, dust is nasty. And extra crap-i-ola will only collect more of it.

Toss-able junky items include:
*Puzzles missing pieces (yes, these could be really cool for a project. So if you're having a hard time letting go, put the pieces in a Ziploc bag and save 'em for later. I'm proud to say I got rid of all of mine.)
*Broken/chewed up pencils. Let's face it, they will not be super useful. Just toss them.
*Dead markers. 'nuff said.
*Board games that after a few weeks of school you notice your students are not interested in. Give them to teachers in older grades. This year, "Torah Slides and Ladders" was just not a big hit amongst my kindergarteners.
*Hardened and/or moldy play-doh?
*Books that are falling apart. Torn covers/missing pages/mold growing inside of them (not even kidding, this happened.)
*soccer balls (it's okay to keep one, but do you really need 4 in your classroom?)
*and, oh, so much more!

I'll never forget the night I went on a throwing away rampage. There was a ton more space and the "oohs and ahhs" from the kiddos the next day said it all. They notice everything! So it was not shocking that the lack of clutter made a difference for them and for moi, me.

Let's start with sleep.

Hi. This is my first blog? We'll see how long this lasts.
Welp, basically, I'm hoping to find a way to write, share, vent, and figure out my first year out of grad school and into the classroom.
Yes, this first year is on the verge of being over...but better late than never.
But it being April now, I guess I can start by sharing with you words of wisdom that I wish I had known back in September. Let's start with 2!
1. If you too are a first year teacher (or, I guess, a first year anything), never forget that even the worst moments have an expiration date. In other words, that thing you are dreading will END. You will get through this. (I tell myself this once a week now and it's surprisingly reassuring.)
2. 8+ hours of sleep helps. A lot. Don't ever lose your sleep. It's just not worth it.
And on that note, sweet dreams for now. -Nitzan