2 Down...178 To Go

Being a Kindergarten teacher involves teaching kids how to count to 100. In order to do this, we count how many days we've been in school and discuss that number every day during our calendar time. However, there are times throughout the year where I catch myself in more of a countdown mindset instead (think of that portion of time after spring break where there are NO more vacations or days off...that's rough).]

We officially started school in our district this past Thursday, and I'll be REAL enough to admit that the countdown hit me a few times during those two days. Any teacher will tell you that the first few days of school are A LOT. No matter the grade, it's always chaotic and overwhelming as you navigate the first couple days of a new year with new students. From a Kindergarten perspective, I think of the first few days as "dumpster fires," filled with all the mess, stress and patience you can possibly possess.

I realize that's a bold statement to say, but I promised in my blog's mission to share the realities of what it's like to teach during these times. I'm committed to following through on that promise, so get yourself ready. I'll sum up the first two days of school in three words:

Blood. Sweat. Tears. And not necessarily in that order.

Now, let me expand upon those so you don't freak out about what happened at school!

Our first day started out as a heat wave, with late July temperatures warming up the building as they normally do. The heat isn't anything out of the norm, except for the fact that the temperatures were creeping toward the three digit mark. AND....our school's AC unit decided that the first day of school was the day to malfunction and not work properly. It didn't take but minutes after kids started to arrive that my neck was clammy, I had VISIBLE back sweat and I was strongly regretting wearing pants that day. Add in the fact I'm kneeling and squatting to be eye level with my tiny kiddos, I'm unpacking backpacks and organizing school supplies, all the while trying to grab new Kindergarteners as they wander the hallway without any idea of which classroom to enter. Like I said, this was all within the first 15 minutes of the school day. And to think I had the rest of that day, plus the day afterward. JOY.

Here are some additional realities of those two days,

• For starters, it was my time of the month, so I was already feeling "bleh" from just being a woman. Ladies, I know you get how that feels.

• Kids stated they were hungry as soon as they sat down at their seats, and continued to inquire about lunchtime every five minutes. I'll also note that they inquired about this after lunch was over as well.

• In the midst of the morning madness, I forgot to take lunch count numbers. I sent the lunch pouch down with money from students, but without the counts of tray lunches that were needed.

• A coloring page that should have taken a solid chunk of time took less than five minutes because kiddos were bored (this took place during morning work time, so we were already off to a great start).

• I asked kids if they were excited to read a book with me, and the response from a few of them was "nope."

• The containers of play-doh I was saving for the first full week of school came out immediately after lunch on day 1 to help me keep kids in their seats.

• I heard "Miss Theile" so many times I could have written a 300 page book with just my name.

• The one time I managed to pee took a lifetime, as my pants stuck to my legs on the way down. Getting them back on took even longer!

• One of my kids walked out of the bathroom without his pants up, and when we told him to pull up his pants, he took off his shoe instead.

• Another one of my students started eating their lunch on the floor by the bathrooms, right before we were supposed to go into the cafeteria.

• I hastily ate a bag of goldfish out of my lunchbox on my lunch break, while organizing the pile of forms and papers that covered my desk.

• Kids cried because they missed their parents and kids cried because it was hot at recess. Cry for me, kiddos, I have a connection!

Blood. Sweat. Tears. Pretty on point, right?

The list could go on, but I think you get the gist. Like I stated earlier, a "dumpster fire" is an appropriate description of those two days of school.

With these two days down, I can honestly share the following physical assessment on how I'm faring:

• My feet are so sore from walking and standing so much that it still hurts to walk. No Barbie heel walk for me, my friends.

• I've sweat less at the gym for a high intensity workout than I did at school the past two days.

• The muscles in my hands are slightly bruised from all the paper cutting I did for name tags, labels and signs around the room.

• The hoarse and scratchy voice you hear if you hear from me will now be my norm for the next ten months, you're welcome.

That's my current reality, folks, all the sweaty, sore and stressful parts of it. In the midst of it all, there's still an excitement and anticipation of what's to come. These kindergarten friends are a clean slate every year, and I can't wait to guide them on this new journey. I do always miss the previous class, and I yearn for them on these first few days of the year when the classroom is an absolute zoo. I remind myself that they were also this way once, and they, too, grew and evolved. I turn on my school day countdown from time to time, but I also like to think that every day we count forward does mean one step closer to helping these kids become lifelong learners. This is truly a wonderful thought to have as I prepare myself, my classroom and my students for the next 178.

~Kendall

Sharing Perspective. Encouraging Perseverance.