1st Day of School

This blog was written on D train on my way home from an exhausting 1st day of school while listening to music by Robin Macy and simultaneously getting sky high at the thought of living and teaching in New York while staying grounded with the reminder of where I come from.

Fourteen boys and seven girls. We ask for no more boys. Lucky (or not?) for us, we have 8 boys who are going to be potential handfuls for the year, all of which we’ll absolutely love (eventually) and absolutely be driven crazy by (almost daily). At least this is what I predict.

Having so many more boys throws an imbalance in our classroom’s equilibrium. Yet, the girls have left us their first day with first impressions that they are heaven sent angels. But we still don’t have enough girls to separate all the boys. It sparked some wonder in my mind what the research is on the physical makeup of a classroom and which leads to more success or more stress. I’m leaning towards more boys = more stress. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.

Ms. B and I only showed our clueless-ness a few times today. We realized that one of our students had already started sizing us up before school even started. With a cute, “innocent” smile on his face, he asked us if we were new, and I could see right through that smile to all the potential schemes he was starting to plan. Too bad for him, we’d already sized him up with the help of advice from other teachers. Very smart child, I can tell we are going to have to come up with more challenging work to keep him busy, challenged, and out of trouble. Also, if anyone finds a remote to mute kids, we might need one for him!

The range and variety of diverse names has definitely presented me with a challenge. No Ryans, Kyles, or Sarahs. Half of the names are names unique to the students, names I’ve never heard of before and might never see again. In the past, I’ve always been a pro at having the names down immediately and correctly. Didn’t happen by the end of the first day this year. Hopefully, I’ll have it by the end of tomorrow. I will be practicing between now and the morning.

Another surprise, almost all of the students (in the whole school ~ 800) showed up in uniforms. This was something I didn’t realize would take place, only because it isn’t found in public schools I have experienced in the Midwest. I’m still unsure if it is actually required that the students are in uniforms or if it is only strongly encouraged. I have to say though, the kids look good in their uniforms – collared or button up white shirts, dark blue skirts or jumpers for the girls, dark blue pants or jeans for the boys. These kids, in their uniforms, put me in the mood to get serious about my job to educate them. I feel more professional surrounded by the uniformed students. The students in their uniforms really impacted me today in a way I didn’t realize would happen with uniforms. It actually makes me wonder if I will be able to or want to make a transition back into schools with non-uniformed students. I’m already in love with what I’ve experienced and felt as a teacher just by their uniforms.

Not all students were in uniforms, and it’ll be interesting to see if they get them over the next few weeks. I’m sure that will depend on if it is required or not. About four of the 21 students came without uniforms. They were either wearing nice school clothes or printed tees and jeans.

The uniforms also impress me because it impresses on me the importance of education for these children. Even if the parent cannot be as involved in their child’s education (circumstances out of their control or lack of true realization to what should be expected), I’m impressed that they make sure their child has nice new uniforms for school.

The other positive thing about uniforms, something that makes me wish they were in my classroom last year, is the lack of worrying about what others are wearing, what clothes and styles are trendy in the world of 5th grade, and the popularity contest that comes with clothing. It puts students all on the same level physically. Even from the first and only day of uniforms, I can feel it definitely takes that element of popularity based on clothing out of the classroom.

I’m very happy about my ride home tonight. I made sure, practically ran for, a spot by the window on the right side of the train so I could wish the city view a good night after the first day of school as a REAL New York City teacher and a survivor of my first day of school! This is my new home, a place for me to teach and begin to make a difference in the lives of my students.

Although I’m completely exhausted (bed at midnight last night, hardly any sleep, up at 4:45 a.m., taught all day), I’m completely happy and hopeful at the new school year. I’m also sure that people on this subway are beginning to wonder why I keep smiling to myself as I frantically scribble in my notebook.