The First Week of School 2009-2010 School Year

Honestly the first day of school felt just like any other teaching day. It didn't feel like the first day of school, it felt more like an ordinary day and that I had been teaching them for a long time. But when I looked at their faces and nameplates I was reminded that this is a new group of students and a new experience for them. It is the first time they have been in 4th grade, and for a few it is the first time being at Saipan Community School.

I am pleased to say that in spite of my not feeling too well on Wednesday and Thursday, the first week of school went extremely well and I can tell that I have another wonderful group of students to work with. Altogether I have 19 students, but I am expecting one more by the end of next week. There are 14 (will be 15) boys and 5 girls. As has been in the past, the boys dominant in number and in talking! A phrase I think I will be saying a lot will be, "Nael, please stop talking so much." Cute kid, likes to talk.

On the first day of school my desk was pristine. By the end of the week it was a disaster. I swear I couldn't find it. I am really going to have to work on organization throughout the day, otherwise I will find myself in the classroom every weekend just trying to find my desk.

On Friday I instructed the students to make their first journal entry about their first week in 4th grade. I simply asked them to write about the things they learned this week and how they felt about the first week of school. I was pleased to read that many of them mentioned how much fun they had this week. Some even said they had fun with the homework. Can you imagine that?