Tuesday, August 31, 2010

nerves are getting the best of me

I have spent the last 9 days at Westminster School for Young Children (which is the new name of the school I work at) getting my classroom ready. I have enjoyed almost every moment of the planning which is good, because that is the tedious part of teaching. I know most of the kids who are going to be in my class from camp this summer....and I have heard some interesting stories about the parents! Needless to say, I have been stressing about a few of them. I don't feel confident or qualified for the job sometimes which is totally irrational. This is pre-school people. I have a Masters in teaching, I have 4 years of teaching experience. I don't know what my problem is....I have been a basket of nerves and of course, everybody can tell because I am horrible at hiding my feelings. One positive aspect about this past week has been planning with my amazing assistant (I do not like calling her that so she will be referred to as my partner!). Her name is Annie; she is a Nashville native; she went to UGA (which is freaking awesome); and she is super organized and NOT ADD so we are really good at accomplishing things! She has an amazing sense of humor, LOVES kids as much as I do, acts like a small child so we get along great, and she is as excited as I am (which is hard to accomplish) to start the year.
This morning was the first meeting with the parents and children. We had 2 sessions this morning, with 4 kids coming to each. I met the most intimidating parent ever this morning...the kind of parent that went to Harvard, asks you about your experience, your training, your qualifications, brags on their child in front of other parents, shows up 25 minutes early for the meeting, and questions your teaching style the first 7 minutes she has entered the room...awesome. However, we made it through, alive and well. I am as excited as ever to have the kids come to school on Friday...WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS (thank goodness.) It is going to be an amazing year and I am getting organized, implementing things that i have learned throughout college courses and many experiences in the classroom, learning a lot about myself, and realizing how important early childhood education really is for children. Teaching is sort of like riding a bike in that sense, it all comes back to you when the time is right, and you remember things that you learned in your first education course when you were a mere freshman in college, and I couldn't be more thankful for that!
Look forward for some absolutely adorable pictures of some youngsters in the coming posts, and pictures of my classroom, of course!
That's all for now, I have to rest up to meet the second round of parents in the morning.

1 comment:

  1. can't wait to see pictures of your classroom!!! I know you're going to have a GREAT year with your kiddos :) You are a total natural with small children - knock 'em dead!!
    Love You.

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