Are you excited?

This is such a loaded question and one that was asked of me this morning.  Are you excited for school to start up again? 

September 6th will be my 15th "Start of the School Year" from the Teacher's Side of the Desk.   Every year has many blessings and many different things thrown at us.  Maybe it's a record football season and the kids hop fan buses to the State Tournament (thus messing with my lesson plans, oh well).  Maybe a famous person visits the school for an assembly or a teacher wins an award.  Maybe there are times when we all have to pull together to get through an issue or an event.  There are SO many different things that come up, and that's just "events."

The first day of class goes like this: I have an approximately accurate list of students who should be in my room, within about 5 minutes of the bell.  I introduce myself, mention what class this is (Algebra 2 or whatever) and then tell the kids to let me know of any nicknames they would like me to use in class, within reason.  Then, I read the list, trying not to botch the names too badly and ask for corrections.  Then, I try to give myself a mnemonic so I can remember the kid or write down "glasses" "front" "blue shirt" or something else descriptive. 

While I have the kids filling out a survey, I try to memorize the names.  This works for the first three classes of the day and then my brain is full.  The last two will just have to wait.  For the first three classes, though, once I'm feeling confident, I announce "I know all of your names."   Then, I go up and down the aisles. The kids are shocked. 

By the end of the day, I have no voice and I just want to go home and have another week of summer.  So, am I excited?  Sure.  Will I cherish this last week of vacation?  YES!