Setting up my first classroom

Today was a very exciting day for me. I started to set up my 2nd grade classroom. I met the other 2nd grade teacher whose class will be across the hall from me. She was extremely nice and welcoming. She gave me my class list, and I saw the names of my actual 19 students. That was an amazing moment for me to see the names of my future students. She told me a lot of the school policies, and I have a better idea about what my new job will be like. I know this school is the perfect fit for me. She explained to me that the school is very small and family centered. We discussed some of the upcoming projects we are going to do with our classes, the Christmas play our classes will put on, and all I kept thinking was I can’t believe this is happening to me. I feel so fortunate and thankful to have gotten this job! I’ve wanted this for so long and I am so excited that I am going to spend my workweek doing something that I absolutely love.


Let me also say that being an elementary school teacher is not an easy job. At least if you do it right it isn’t. I say this not to pat myself on the back, but I feel if you have never done it, you can’t realize how much work it is. It is more than just photocopying dittos and lecturing. Everything you do has to be bright and colorful, with lots of hands on materials. You have to be a teacher, mother, nurse, therapist, and role model all at the same time. I have been cutting out laminated items for weeks now, and I am still not done. I labeled all of my books with colored dots to represent what reading levels they are. I have over 300 books so this took a long time! I also put labels on my bookshelf today so that the students can find all the different genres of books that we have in our classroom library. I organized all of my bulletin board materials, craft supplies, etc. Wait, I am not complaining, because I am enjoying every minute of it!


I know that turning down the part-time counselor position was the right thing to do because I would not be able to give my whole self to my classroom if I attempted to do both. I was little sad today when I met my replacement for the fall. However, when I think about my new class, I know it’s the right thing. I know I will keep in touch with everybody because they are important enough to me to do so. Plus we are in the same town, so I can grab us some Ralph’s Italian Ices and head over to visit. I want to give my full 100% to my students and help them to be as successful as they can be. I have been really meticulous with setting up my classroom because it’s almost like setting up a small home. My students and I will be in that room 6 hours a day, Monday to Friday. I keep thinking of more things that I need to buy and do, because I don’t want to forget anything. I have numerous lists that I am working off of. I am trying to be as prepared as I possibly can be so that I will be ready by September 3rd. I feel like I accomplished a lot in my classroom today, but there is still a lot to do. Good thing I still have the rest of August to prepare myself!


The closer the school year gets, the more real this is becoming to me. The fall is going to bring about a lot of changes, but did I mention that I am incredibly excited!