Shhh...

Shhh... I'm thinking.

The First Week

It's hard to believe that it's already been a week since school started. So much work to get ready, so much paperwork, planning, organizing, preparing, just so much! Then, the kids arrived - which always brings a fresh perspective and new dimension to the work before they get there.

But, it's been a week since then and I'm beat! I'm already a bit behind in grading, I've not covered nearly what I'd hoped to and I continue to feel overwhelmed.

To complicate matters, it feels like the honeymoon with my kids is nearly over. I have a real mix of interesting students - not just because some are 4th and others 5th, or some English Language Learners and others not, and not just because I have some behaviorally challenged kids and others that are model students - but because of all of that. I'm trying not to use all the tricks in my bag while trying not to loose patience or perspective. More on all of them as I discover them, but I can already tell who will try my nerves and who will make it easy to teach. I can also see who will fall between the extremes - but then again, it'll be different everyday.

Teaching - much like parenting - is both the hardest thing I've done, and the most rewarding.

I'm so tired, yet feel so alive - or at least I tell myself.

Ah to teach again!

It's with nervous anticipation that I announce that I'll once again be in the classroom!

Two days ago I was hired to teach a 4th/5th blended classroom. After more than my share of time spent looking, resumes sent, interviews, and call-backs - I finally found a classroom to call my own again. I'm so happy and excited, yet daunted by the work ahead of me - to get my self and my room ready for kids in just three more days. It was five when I was hired, and it seems I've hardly done anything since then.

So, it's back to work for me - in more ways then one!

Whoo hoo!

All Aboard...

Warning - the post you're about to read is not for the faint of heart, or for the non-parent (you'll just be too bored).

The Potty Train has arrived at our house.

My wife has bravely accepted the challenge of helping our daughter get potty trained this week (and most of the next few weeks as well I'd only imagine). We've touted the positives of underwear, we've encouraged her to throw her diapers in the 'trash', we've talked alot about big kids using the potty. Books and movies seem to center around the topic. Needless to say, we're happily in the potty zone.

We remind ourselves that very few kindergardeners come to school non-potty trained. We remind ourselves that she's ready - and probably has been for a while, even when we weren't. We keep in mind that accidents will happen, and despite our first instincts, we should remain positive and supportive. Sure, she'll have to survive three or four days of us suggesting every hour on the hour that she go to the bathroom - but in exchange she gets freedom.

OK, it's as much for us as it is for her.

Key to the process will be getting her to recognize when she needs to go - which she's already shown us. Rewards will come in the form of stickers, crafts, trinkets, toys, and the promise of a trip to Chucky Cheese with her neighbor friend who's made it through the potty regimen and most importantly choosing the color and helping to paint her bedroom with her Daddy.

Also key to the process will be getting her parents to recognize that she's growing up - way too fast in a lot of ways. Not that we cherish scrambling for a diaper only to find the only one that's left is a size or two too small and it's crammed into a minivan seat. Not that I enjoy emptying the stink ridden Diaper Champ (by the way, I prefer the Diaper Genie - we're only using the sub par unit because I, like thousands of other parents, accidentally threw away a crucial part of the Diaper Genie - I felt like I just threw away an O ring on the space shuttle).

So, our little girl is running around the house in her Dora underwear - my wife is chasing her with a children's book entitled 'No More Diapers' in one hand and a spray bottle of carpet cleaner in the other screaming 'Let's go potty honey!' while trying to sound positive.

And, of course, I'm doing my part by blogging about it.