First Day of School

Today was the big day.  I must say, it was the best first day we have had in a couple of years.  I don't remember ever being so nervous about the school year beginning, but I felt about as panicked as a new teacher in a classroom of 30 students! 

Until last night.  Last night I finally felt organized enough to start this year off on the right foot.  I still have much of the yearly lesson planning to do, but I'm well under-way.  I have the whole week completed, so imminent catastrophes have been avoided. 

We took a family trip out to the stores last night to buy school supplies.  That is something I realized I never really did last year.  We just kind of used the old stuff and did a quick job of clearing off the old materials to make way for the new.  I made sure this year to get the kids new pencils, erasers, crayons, notebooks, etc., whether they needed them or not.  They'll use it all eventually and new things give them a positive sense of anticipation.  With all of their school shelves cleaned up and brand new books setting on them, they could not wait to get under-way with school.  My 8th grader had two subjects completed before 8:00 this morning!  Always a great start!

I listened to kids read, instructed the younger ones with their math & English, and the kindergartner with her letters until about 1:30 this afternoon.  Other than feeling a little numb, I enjoyed the peacefulness of it all.

No complaining, no arguing, no lost pencils, and all work done before 2:00.  Whether or not that will happen ever again during the course of this year, I don't know.  But it made for an excellent first day of school!

Hope yours goes as well.  Would love to hear about it!