Ever since grade school, I can remember wanting to be in two different professions when I grew up. I wanted to be an author, with books on the shelves in bookstores across the country, and I also desired to be a teacher. Specifically, I wanted to be an elementary teacher who taught children with Special Needs. While it took me a while to begin working on the author piece, I did go to college to pursue my dream of a job in education.
College life was fun and fairly uneventful. (If I had to do that piece all over again, I would have strayed a little more out of the lines, so to speak. I was never involved in drunk, crazy nights in college, but I should have had at least a couple of those experiences. Maybe some of these posts would have been a little more interesting if I had done so.)
My student teaching assignments were exciting and I enjoyed having the chance to somewhat begin to know what it was going to be like teaching young children. Those student teaching placements, however, do not come close to comparing with what it was like to finally have my very own classroom.
Setting Up the Room for Success
I do not remember the interview I went through to acquire my first teaching job, nor do I remember specific lessons that I taught during the 2003-2004 school year, but I do remember with clarity what it felt like walking into my classroom for the very first time.
I was absolutely beside myself with excitement. Principal Richard Williams and I walked together to the doorway of Room #129, and he handed me the keys.
I practically skipped into the room. As a matter of fact, I can remember telling Mr. Williams that, “I haven’t been this excited since my wedding day!” (This was of course something he decided needed to be shared in front of the entire school district staff during our opening day PD. I only turned three shades of red, so it was fine.)
Having my very own classroom was exhilarating.
There were long, blank bulletin boards to play with, shelves of manipulatives to sort through, and my very own teacher desk with drawers for pencils, erasers, Kleenex, and everything else I could think of. (My young, naive heart was in absolute heaven.)
My husband, Brian, came in with me those early days before the school year started so that he could help me set up. There were name tags to tape onto desks, pencils to be sharpened, tables to be rearranged, etc…
Man, if Brian only knew then what he knows now, I’m wondering if he would have been smiling so much that first year. The poor guy has been dragged into my classrooms for the past 21 years to build, arrange, clean, create, and basically do any little odd job that I think is crucial for the year to begin with success.
I remember imagining the possibilities were endless when I walked into my first classroom. There was that feeling of truly believing that I may be able to make a difference in a child’s life.
Beginning the Year with Excitement
Everything I had learned during my years in college, along with lessons from how I was raised, were incorporated into that first teaching year.
I attempted to stay organized, I pushed my students as much as I thought I should when teaching different concepts, and I gave hugs when they were sad over a stumble on the playground, or a skinned knee from gym class.
I gave it my all.
While the students were absorbing content, I was learning as well.
Special Education teachers work with a variety of staff to help ensure the overall success of the students. I was learning how to collaborate with other adults on how to best help the children. There was more to this teaching business than just knowing how to deliver the content. There were also aspects such as participating in building meetings, IEP meetings, creating behavior plans, etc…
Regardless of all the work, I was ready.
To my way of thinking, life couldn’t get much better.
Continuing On
As we move into the 2024-25 school year, I’m well beyond my first year of teaching.
While the ‘freshness’ of the profession may be long past, there’s still that air of excitement as a new school year begins.
Now, I’m going to be honest and tell you that I’d rather have a bulletin board already completed than a blank slate at this point in my career.
There’s an ‘established’ feel to my room now. I’ve worked for many years to create an environment that is safe, loving, and productive all at once. (I still have that same desk I used 21 years ago. As I have been shuffled around to different rooms, I make sure to bring the desk along with me.)
To me, my room feels more like ‘home’ now than it ever has before. Working for that specific outcome was absolutely intentional.
I realize now as a teacher that since the room is all organized how I need it to be, the bulk of my early school year work lies in the ability to create schedules for students that make sense for their needs, provide accommodations and materials that will help them be successful, wherever they are at in the school building, and to create learning and behavior plans that will meet their individual goals.
Easy, right?
No one said teaching would be simple and straightforward, however I can attest that the students make the job a rewarding one, and I never quite know what surprises to expect from the day.
What Will Be Next?
There will come a time when I’m able to retire. So many teachers continue to be educators, well past their retirement age.
I will not be one of them.
The shy, quiet little girl that I once was, hiding under my blankets with a worn copy of Little House in the Big Woods, had two dreams: to become a teacher, and to also be a published author.
I believe that one lifetime is immense enough to hold two dreams.
After four or five more years, I will be ready to move on and leave the education field to pursue writing in more of a full-time capacity.
While I will miss the kids, I will enjoy sitting in my little Writing Cabin, typing away to my heart’s content.
Someday.
Goals for Today:
- Weed a Flower Garden
- Clean the Microwave Cart
- Read My Book by the Water – Yes, I’m still Up North.