#sol17- August 8, 2017
Today was our first day of school and knowing this I thought that I would draft my slice last night, but after a busy day of meeting students (the Ice Cream Social is supposed to be a quick event, but somehow always stretches) among other first day prep things I just could not manage it. So here I sit, writing after…
- arriving at school while it was still dark to have time to calmly start my day (aka write up my schedule, organize all the materials I might need, etc.)
- seeing all my grade level colleagues arrive earlier than usual too, so we had time for a quick chat/laugh/check-in (I LOVE our team)
- meeting and greeting my 17 students (only two of whom are new to the school)
- teaching morning routines and having our first Morning Meeting (and bam I learned all the names!)
- remembering how s l o w l y things get done the first few days (weeks?)
- reading two picture books (The Story of Fish and Snail and School’s First Day of School)
- jumping on a table (a la Colby Sharp) to proclaim my love for reading
- learning more about each other and the year ahead we hope for
- making it to recess and lunch/snack on time
- losing not a single child in all the confusion of the first day
- having my first recess duty
- remembering to send a student down to the nurse at the right time for her blood sugar monitoring
- sending home the tons of paperwork that the first day entails
- emailing parents a copy of the welcome email so that they can subscribe to the class blog for announcements
- updating the blog
- solving the mystery of why one email bounced back
- answering the parents who were already scheduling “Getting to Know You” conferences as well as other issues they emailed me about
- setting up a job chart so that all the unfinished things I had to do today can be shared by the kids tomorrow
- leaving with a small stack of “All About Me” papers that I will read in a bit
- ordering pizza for delivery- I think I need it!
I have to admit, all things considered, it was a great first day! Phew, now I can relax and sleep soundly tonight.
*** A former third grader still slicing!
Ms. Victor Reads 
Congrats!!!!!!!! As I read this, I could picture YOU doing it all. So glad we met in person and spent the day together so I can do that.
And thanks for the smart tip:
setting up a job chart so that all the unfinished things I had to do today can be shared by the kids tomorrow
Duh…using the unfinished things as feedback and assigning it as a kid job. Brilliant.
Have a great rest of the week!!
I was channeling lots of mentors, including you today! So grateful for your trip and our time together- and that we can still learn together.
Definitely sounds like a great first day! Congrats!!!
Congratulations and whew! You made it!
A full day! I can imagine the energetic charge provided by a desk-jump in the middle of the day.