Best (first) week ever

Okay, that’s mostly because it was a three-day week…nothing like starting school on a Wednesday! But seriously, it’s been a wonderful week.

I LOVE the kids at my school. I thought my class last year couldn’t be beat, but this group is awesome, too. School climate is such a difficult thing to explain, but the atmosphere on campus is unlike any I’ve ever seen. Something happens at the administrative level that is passed on to the entire faculty and staff–some consciously, and some sub-consciously–and the kids instinctively respond to it. If I could figure it out and market it, there would be a revolution in the way public schools are run in this country. I mean, the kids that come to our school have challenges–we are located in the inner city–but it’s such a pleasant place to be. The staff is happy, the kids are happy…AND they’re learning.

There’s a different energy in my classroom this year…I’ve only got 5 girls! All the third grade classes have more boys than girls at a 3:1 ratio. It seems that there were mostly boys born in South Florida in 2000. Interesting, right? Well, I’m really enjoying my ‘boy class’! It’s been a great change. I’ve had ‘girl classes’ in the past and this is a very different experience.

Also, I took all the desks out of my room and am using tables instead. So far, that’s been a great decision and I wish I’d done it years ago. I’m also keeping all the backpacks on hooks on the wall, instead of at students’ seats. That’s been a pain at times because they have to run back and forth, but it keeps the instructional area clear and prevents the kids from digging through their stuff all day long.

So, we’re off to a promising start…looking forward to a relaxing weekend now! The hardest part is over!