Monday, August 25, 2008

What a busy week...

Well...as you can see I didn't post for a week. The first week of school always seems to run me down! I was in bed early each night and slept hard! For those of you that are teachers...you so understand!! It is a great week...but wow...so draining!

I had a great first week. And I must say...I had all 28 names memorized with faces by the end of the day! Yeah me!! I try very hard to know them so they feel welcomed. Oh..by the way..I had three moms say thank you for the postcards. One mom even told me that her son was so nervous about starting and that the postcard really made him excited and comfy. So...take the time to make that initial contact.

But I must complain for a few sentences here. I was able to get back my emergency cards this week. I always make a point to look them over, check names, employers, emergency contacts, and allergies. I was a little saddened this year. I cannot tell you how many of my students don't like with a mom or dad. Out of my 28 students 10 live with a relative or guardian! That is ONE THIRD of my class! WOW!! It really saddens my heart some of the situations these kids live in. Now, I must tell you. I live in the mountains of central California. We are not an inner city. We are not a "city" at all! We are a small community (45,000) that is what I would consider middle America. Our families seems to just be disappearing. Just thought I would share how in the last 14 years of teaching...times have changed!

So...now I am onto week two of school! And I am excited!
Softball is over tonight....
Cheerleading is in full swing...
Gymnastics starting too....

Here we go again...another year full of adventure!

5 comments:

Amazing_Grace said...

Maybe the "whole" family lives with grandma and grandpa now. It's happening more and more with these hard times. They can't afford to live somewhere so the mom and dad with all their kids moves in with grandma and grandpa.

Heather said...

I wish that were the case. There were no parents listed on the emergency cards....just grandparents or guardians. I would think if the whole family was there they would have listed mom and dad as primary contact. Each year I see more and more grandparents raising their grandchildren due to drug and alcohol abuse in their own children.

Rebecca said...

I love that you sent out postcards. Bug started school up with a sub because his teacher was on maternity leave. I can't wait until Sept 2 when she comes back. I know the sub is trying, but I so much prefer hus regular teacher - not to mention the sub hasn't sent one thing home in over a month that even hints at what they are doing in class and when I called her (3 times now) all she wants to talk about is "how cute" she thinks the kids are... I don't think she gets at all that she is subbing a special ed class *roll eyes* I seriously think she sees it as day care and it drives me nuts.

Anyways, that could be a long story if I let it drag on... back to the postcards - I really like that you did that and I hope that as Bug gets older he has teachers who are just as on top of things. :)

Pre-children I was an elementary school librarian... I kinda miss the first day!

Fratzels said...

It probably has a lot to do with the prison there too.
Glad it was a good week. Sometimes I miss it, but know I couldn't afford to do it in the crazy messed up state of NH where teachers with master's degrees start at 25K and have almost nothing in their classrooms.

Queen of the Mayhem said...

I could have written this post!

I know exactly how you feel about the beginning of school AND the disappearing family!

Hope it gets a little easier soon!