Right.

Got my school laptop today, which is in itself a big step up from last year (when they could supposedly have given me one, except they never got any power cords, or if they did no one remembered to check and see if I actually wanted a laptop, or to check and see if I wanted or needed anything *cough* I mean hi). Since I'm just now starting the insurance claim on my stolen laptop, this is not only an advantage but almost literally lifesaving, since I can now do things like level books and find PDF worksheets and look up information in the core curriculum documents without having to lug the books home.

Second grade this year. This is exciting on all kinds of levels, not least because one of my all-time favorite teachers was my second grade teacher. I spent a lot of time in his classroom in college and after, both volunteering and subbing, so I find myself drawing a lot from him when I organize my classroom and plan my day.

The kids are interesting.. very active, very chatty. I'm supposed to have 25, but the most I've ever seen so far is 17. This, of course, will not last, since the other two second grade teachers have closer to 30. I have the mid-range kids, too, so as we get an idea of their levels, they'll be offloading onto me anyway. All I can do at this point is cross my fingers and pray that the eight that haven't shown up yet have moved away and that I won't suddenly have a class of 33. Because, ew.

I spent some time this summer rereading my classroom management books, which has done me some good, although in some respects the assumptions they make are just frustrating. The idea of a flexible curriculum, for example... or a 30 minute recess, or enough classroom space (or few enough students, take your pick) for a morning circle (as opposed to a morning set of rows on the rug). However, I am learning to adapt.

Starting the year from day one has really made a difference too -- even if I only had one and a half days' lead time (my bulletin boards are STILL not finished, argh). We're setting up routines, we're practicing signals, I'm getting to actually implement things like time out... things are not going perfectly, of course, but they're going. I don't feel as completely overwhelmed and apathetic as I did last year. Just as exhausted, but not having to force myself out of bed in the morning. This is a promising sign, I feel.

With that, it's 10:35, and I haven't finished sorting through the three massive boxes of Stuff that my father brought ume over the weekend. (hanging folders, craft supplies, pencils, pens, paper, notebooks... a veritable treasure trove of Teacher Things (tm). God, I feel so old.) Further bulletins... well, hopefully more regularly than last year.