Keep your hands inside the ride

I think I am going to blog a little more frequently about my first year teaching full time. I can't promise it's going to be overtly impressive or entertaining, well I guess I could promise anything I want, doesn't mean it's going to be the case.

But we'll see what happens along the way... either way.

I went up to my new school today, not really for the first time.

I've already met my new administration a few times and toured my room. They are so great. They are excited, and supportive and happy people. I am very excited about the environment.

But today, the room was mine. The retiring teacher was pretty much cleared out, though she left a ton of supplies. The chairs we are all stacked, tables and carts were sitting on top of cabinets as the carpets got cleaned over the summer.

I had a custodian let me into my room... MY room and just started moving whatever I wanted to where ever I wanted it. I'm not finding the right words here. It wasn't about empowerment or playing house, it was about a sense of arrival and the opportunity to get my hands dirty with what I've been planning all of these years.

My outlook and teaching philosophy dictated where I started moving things. I have this crazy notion that school should be interesting and exciting.

I feel like I am strapped in and listening to the clank-clank-clicking of the chain that pulls the car up that first hill of the roller coaster.