My toughest day as a teacher - part 2

A few years ago I wrote about my toughest day as a teacher. The first day of school. The first day of my daughter going to Kindergarten. The original post is here.

September 5th 2017 was the second toughest day. My son started Kindergarten. Big day for him. Big day for my daughter too, she started 2nd grade. We have moved out of Brooklyn to be closer to where I teach. One of the biggest benefits is my kids can attend school in the district where I teach. It's an awesome district and I am grateful for the opportunity for my kids to experience it.

It means my son starts Kindergarten and my daughter starts 2nd grade. New house, new town, new school. Lots of new things...

Gearing up for Day 1

Tomorrow is the first day of the 2016-2017 school year.

My 14th first day of school as a teacher.

I'm excited. These last few years I've been re-energized about the profession and my place in it.

My students and colleagues have pushed me a lot these past two years. I hope I've pushed them too.

I've been thinking a lot about the why and how of what I do lately. I want my students to think about their why too. To not just do. But to understand the purpose, the why of what they do.

I think I'm going to make this a poster in my lab this year...

Day 1 is in the books!

Preface: I am beginning the school year making a concerted effort to blog most days. Every day is daunting with my various after-school commitments, but I'm giving it the ol' college try...

The 2013-2014 school year is officially underway!

Yes, we start late. Here in New York City we always begin in September, and go until the end of June.

Good first day, saw one class on each grade, 2-5. I see all classes in grades 2-5 but not all days do I get one of each (tomorrow, for instance, is a 3, 4, & 5 day).

This year teachers came back on Tuesday, September 3rd. We had Tuesday & Wednesday for staff development, classroom environment building, and general preparations. All without students. Thursday and Friday were days off for Rosh Hashanah. Students began today.

Why do I point this out? Because I think it made a world of difference.

This is my 11th September and I think it was one of the smoothest overall. Classrooms were set, rosters were 99% in order, hallways were clear. It just seemed like those two prep days really payed off. I think starting students on a Monday helps too, give a clean feel to the start of the year (unlike starting on a Wednesday or Thursday and only being in for a day or two, starting the year a bit jerky).

Updating server data & Google Apps login info now, gearing up for tomorrow... Day 2...