Fingerprints

You might wonder how a teacher knows what to do when it comes time to prepare their classroom for a new school year. How do we keep it all straight?

For me, there are many different angles to consider as I approach preparations for the 2018-2019 school year. How do I create a classroom that is organized, clean and safe; while making sure it is an environment that will nurture and comfort all of my students?

There are many other things to consider: where should we go on field trips? How can I make sure that they are academic, yet capture the attention of my students and chaperones? What will I do about homework? Will I have a classroom helper? If so, how much will the helper do? How do I feel about "AR?" Will the school care that I desire to read aloud to my students every day?

This first year of teaching, I will emulate many of the fantastic educators that I have watched in action for the past two years. Some of them teachers from my University, others are my own kids' teachers... but the main influences in my classroom are the two cooperating teachers during my student teaching semester. One taught me how to be very organized and on top of things. The other taught me how to lead students in lessons rich with self-learning and tangible discovery. Both of their influences are visible in my classroom, and they would recognize their work in my teaching just by looking around the room. Their fingerprints on my life will not be soon erased, and it is my hope that I will be the kind of teacher that leaves these same strong imprints on the lives of my students over the years.