I am officially finished with my first week of being a 4th grade classroom.  Although I have lesson plans to finish and papers to grade, I thought I would take a few minutes to write down some things that I did not learn in school about teaching.

1.  The paper work at the beginning of the year is insurmountable.  20 packets with 8 papers that parents have to sign and return = a huge, unorganized mess

2. You have got to be flexible.  No matter how much you prepare and get things ready, something will change.  I gained 2 kids, 2 kids never showed up and my entire schedule got flipped on Friday.

3.  You will find things annoy you that you never thought would.  I can't stand personal sharpeners and the enormous mess they make.

4.  No matter how early you go to bed, you will be utterly exhausted the first week of school.

5.  No matter how much responsibility you have thrown at you during student teaching, nothing can prepare you for your own classroom.

6.  It is hard to keep a straight face when a kid make a funny remark that you should not laugh at.

7.  Your kids will take a piece of your heart home with them the first day of school.

I absolutely love my job!  I am so blessed to be in a profession where I get to see "aha" moments everyday.  I get to see children grow and mature, learn more about themselves and the world in which they live.  I have kids who come from amazing households and some who don't.  My heart expanded at 8:05 am on Monday morning to include 20 little darlings and their families.

I can't imagine doing anything else!