At least that’s the situation for this teacher. Helping children learn to read is just about the most exciting thing in the world. Little children are eager to learn. They really want to learn CURSIVE! At least, when CURSIVE was something approved by the school. Alas, Cursive is a 3rd Grade skill. We’ll be learning to print first. Being a writer, you already know that teaching 6-year-old’s to write will be my happiest part of the day. And, I’ve been given 30 state-approved minutes to do just that.
Here’s a break down of instructional minutes. The children are under the school’s supervision for 380 minutes in the day. I should have time to expose them to everything you’d think 1st graders would need to learn, including music, the library, PE and computers. These littles need to eat a hearty breakfast because they’re going to be busy all day. That much is quite true, so, let’s do the math.
380 minutes minus lunch and recess = 305 minutes. Still quite a lot of time. Four days a week, the children are away from my care for 45 minutes. Computers, Library, PE, and Music are covered by specialists in those areas four days a week. 305 – 45 = 260 minutes.
Still quite a bit of time left! Reading and Writing take up 120 minutes of that. 260 – 120 = 140 minutes left. Subtract 90 minutes for math. 50 minutes remain. Oh, yes, the students eat breakfast in the classroom which takes 15 minutes. So, 35 minutes remain to teach Science and Social Studies. Which leaves 0 minutes for being 6, zipping jackets, throwing up, having an exciting show and tell, enjoying teacher story time after lunch, being 6, veering off track a little, playing, being 6, getting back on track, pulling Sally’s braid, sticking a tongue out a Johnny, or remembering a potty break before it’s too late. Fergettabout birthday treats at the end of the day! And MY birthday is on a Friday. We will be banking minutes for that little celebration!
1st graders have an attention span of about 15 minutes before melt down begins. A good teacher creates a wonderful dance, repeated 187 times throughout the year. Everything in a constant routine, the kids learn the dance, but the song changes very frequently. It’s in that way the days go by like a symphony. But, they need to learn the dance first. Everything is done in 15 minute chunks with a lot of movement thrown in for good measure.
I can’t wait to teach the kiddos how to walk in a straight class line. One of the most darling and hilarious things to do and watch. We’ll be seen following the lines on the basketball court for a few times while watching the person in front of them. Classroom control can be a life saver in this crazy world. In our school, you only walk on the right side of the hallway. Tough, because most 1st graders still need to learn their right from their left. Just like driving a car, walking on the right side avoids crashes. And, please. Remember, no running. Don’t make me blow my whistle.
What will the kids be teaching me all day? That time is really an adult concept. That the place we left off in our chapter book was too exciting to stop. That thunderstorm reading (with the help of a magical cd) under the desks after a hot recess makes everyone feel better. You need to be under the desks so you don’t get wet, which makes everyone giggle with delight. They will teach me that I’ve been missing little hugs for the last five years. They’ll teach me that the eyes in the back of my head are not always open. And, they’ll show me love in a million ways every day.
The input does decide the outcome. When I first became a teacher, the best information I ever received was this. “The first day is everything. If you have them under your spell on Day 1, you’ll breeze through the year to Day 187.” Nothing else matters more than Day 1.
This weekend, I’ll be deep into Teacher’s manuals, choosing specific activities for each of the first 380 minutes. Next week, I’ll increase my vitamin intake in preparation for the influx of microbes. An input of germs = the outcome of a very healthy immune system with a few sick days thrown in for good measure. I’ll be planning my wardrobe for next week, while cooking up meals for the freezer.
I’ve received an invitation to the “New Teacher Gathering” on Wednesday and Thursday. Friday is “Go Time” in which all the teachers from our huge district will gather at the high school for a rally to kick off the 2022-2023 school year.
As I walked across my little campus yesterday, my keys click-edy clacked softly on my chest, hanging from a bright blue lanyard. My whistle, silver in color and a 1996 vintage model, added to the tune. Click, clack-edy, click, swaying right over my happy heart. I’m back doing something I’ve truly missed. I’ve been handpicked by God to help 20 littles I haven’t meant yet. He needs me to teach them important lessons. He needs me to make sure they all know they are as brilliant as the shining stars, as important as the sun in the sky, and loved to the moon and back.
I’m sure I’ll have some questions for God.
“God, are you sure about that one?”
“Did you really mean ME?”
“Did you check my year of birth?”
“Do I still have the patience?”
“Will you grant me patience, wisdom, humor, and peace to get through this year. Please?”
Those questions are ones I ask him every year. Then, as we celebrate Laborhalloweenthanksgivingchristmasvalentine’seastermemorial Day, (which does seem to be one long holiday), each hour the reasons will slowly be revealed as to why each child was selected for me. My students have so many things to teach me about life. I, in turn, will teach them to write their best stories for the bulletin board. Sounds like a fair deal to me!
Whatever you do today, think about inputting some positive and happiness in someone’s day. Smile. Wave. Stop to talk a minute. You can make up the time somewhere else, for you’ll never regret time spent with a friend. The outcome will be happiness. Just try it.
More tomorrow.