First Day of Work

Last week I received and accepted my first full-time teaching position. After moving to Florida, I was extremely grateful to find a job in just over a week. I must be honest though; I wasn't exactly expecting to receive an offer at this school because the principal didn't even interview me. Either I just completely blew away the two other administrators with my skills or they were desperate. I'll just go with the first!

Needless to say, I was completely unprepared for my first day at the school. Luckily the students don't arrive until next week. I felt as if no one told me what to do, what exactly I was teaching, what my curriculum is, etc. Not only do I need to make my blank of a canvas classroom look acceptable, but I need to figure out what in the world I am doing. Luckily, I introduced myself to some other math teachers, and they attempted to fill me in. I still feel overwhelmed, but hopefully, I am a little more informed.

I've also realized that when you look up the stats on a school that it might be a bit deceiving. After doing my own research, I found that this school (we'll just call it WG for the sake of this blog) has about a 45% free and reduced lunch (or poverty level). My thoughts are, "Hey, this can't be too bad. It could be MUCH worse. I've taught in another school with higher statistics. I can handle this." After talking to the other teachers, I've been informed that the South is much different the the North, that I am originally from. I guess time will tell if these "southern thugs" are all that they are cracked up to be. I was also told today: "You're white. And you seem nice and sweet-natured. You can't be that when the kids get here." I know she didn't mean that in a negative way; she simply meant to tell me to be firm and in control come the first day or else I may never be able to regain control later. This is nothing that I didn't already know. I guess I must figure out exactly how to do that between now and then.

I'm making this blog as a way to express the frustrations and glories of my first year of teaching. Hopefully, I will be able to reach out to someone who is either going through the same, past or present. And so starts my journey. Currently, I'm overwhelmed. At this point, I need to make a list of all the tasks to accomplish and conquer them on at a time. Tomorrow's main to goal: one bulletin board, read the first unit, and get the curriculum.

Ms. K