No longer a first year teacher.

A new school year is upon us! How did this happen? It feels like it was only a couple of weeks ago that I tearfully said goodbye to my very first class of first graders and closed up my classroom. However, ready or not we are now a week away from the start of another year. Tonight was the annual Meet The Teacher and just like last year I was a bit nervous.

Being an introvert naturally leads me to be a bit quiet and reserved. The concept of greeting 18-20 parents of my future students is a bit daunting for me to think about. Put me in a room full of 6 and 7 year olds I am good to go, but their parents, for lack of a better term, freak me out. Last year I was so completely overwhelmed and prayed I didn't make myself look like a total idiot. 😂

I kept myself distracted for most of the day to avoid thinking about meeting the parents. As we waited for the school doors to open and the rush of parents to be let in I gave myself a stern talking to. (You are awesome! You got this! They don't bite!) When the first parents walked through my door I slipped into confident teacher-mode and all of my shy awkwardness was happily no where to be found.

A few of my students from last year came into my room to say hi and it was such an awesome feeling to see them and get hugs. It was the kind of moment every teacher lives for. It made me think of a little girl I know who wanted to be a teacher from the moment she knew what school was. A little girl who dreamed of one day having her very own classroom and hoped that her students would come to visit her even after they moved on to another grade level.

6 year old Ms. Shaffar (future Mrs. Ogier) with her very first students. 

Her spelling tests were very challenging. 😆

 After meeting some of my new students I am even more excited for the new school year to start. I think we are going to have a lot of fun while learning all about math and science. I also have a new partner this year. We have been working together a bit over the past couple of weeks and she is wonderful! It is going to be a really fun year!