Skip to main content

First Day of School


My day began
In search of a computer
Needing to print the day’s activities
Slow machines
Not letting me in
Change of plans

Students begin to arrive
Excited about their choice of seat
Migrating to the back row
Wondering about the new teacher.
I ask their names
Hoping to keep them in my head
They go wafting out like smoke from a chimney

Class begins
Reviewing the rule book
I call on him to read
He refuses
A battle of the wills
Refusing to engage
I let it go
Later I learn he could not read it
7th grade English inclusion class
Put on the spot
Embarrassed
Cringing about how I made him feel
Determined to apologize tomorrow
Hoping to keep the rapport.

All students like games!
Not when they need to hold hands
Self-conscious
Refusing to take the risk
My work cut out for me.
Loathing of the subject matter
Convinced they are not readers and writers
Embracing the challenge
Ideas begin to bounce around in my head
Knowing I can change their minds.

The Advanced Class saunters in
Taking their seats
Chatting as I take attendance
Reviewing the rules
They continue to chat.
Going around the room I ask their favorite subject
Math
Art
Science
History
Lunch
Gym
The lack of “Language Arts” is deafening
Turned off to reading
Dreading writing
Confidently I tell them,
“No worries! Soon you will be anticipating 2nd block.”
“Is this Language Arts, ma’am?”
Welcoming them in
Smile on my face
Talking music while we wait
“You know who ICP is?” he asked dumbfounded.
“I play the guitar and drums.”
Declining an invitation to play for the class.
Finally, they all arrive.
Introductions are made
Lunch interrupts our fun.
Assigned tables await – if only we could find them
Three seat changes later
Pizza, tacos, and other sustenance is ignored
In favor of socialization
Back in class
The games resume
Willing to hold hands
They step up to the challenge.
A leader emerges
Reputation sullying her
Meeting the challenge
Victorious in her quest.
Back in their seats
Repeating the question,
“What is your favorite subject?”
Once again, Language Arts is not heard.
I tell them to get ready
Soon it will be one of the best.
“I think I am going to like this class.”
Could be heard as they walked out the door.

Classes over,
A smile on my face from the day’s success
Seventeen years later
Time to go to officially change my name
It is done.
In the eyes of the US of A
I am now MANDIE ALLISON ROBERTSON-VICTOR.
The certification process begins.
Now the wait for more forms to be signed.
Heading home.
Smiling.
Loving everything the first day of school brings.

Comments

  1. Janet KittnerAugust 26, 2010 at 4:03 PM

    Oh, it sounds like a fabulous start!! And I think I would love being in your class. It's a really neat thing to be able to pass on a love of reading to someone! :)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Aging sucks.....or does it?

Upon first thought, watching a parent age sucks. Unnoticeable at first. A bit of a stoop, some creaking in the knees, whitening of the hair. The doctor’s visits begin, as do the pills One for high blood pressure, another to thin the blood, and a handful of vitamins to top it off. The signs are there, but it is easier to see him as he has always been. My father, a pillar of strength. Until my pillar was knocked off-kilter. A simple surgery and the mortality of my father looked me square in the eye when the drugs took hold of his brain. Amidst his fidgeting and confusion, I realized…AGING SUCKS! And then….enlightenment dawned upon me….AGING IS BEAUTIFUL Wrinkles tell of smiles while silver hair speaks a life of memories. Knees creaky after years of kneeling in prayer, offering up a lap, and climbing up the stairs for one more kiss goodnight. Almost forty-eight years of memories nestled in my heart. Memories of my father. Taking us to church each Sunday Building and fixing ...
2 comments
Read more

An Easter Lesson

I decided that this break I was going to stay home and spend the week doing things I have not done or haven't done in awhile. It all began Thursday night with Ballroom Dancing, which will continue on Monday and Thursday with lessons. Saturday, I bought a couple of new outfits. Today brought both something I hadn't done in awhile and something new. Today, I went to church which was pretty cool in itself. I went with someone I just met the day before. (I am sure that is no surprise to any of you who know me.) We made plans to meet up at church. It was different from any church I had been in before. The chairs were set up "in the round." There was no piano or organ to accompany our singing. People were in and out throughout the 90 minute service. No surprise, the place was packed. The service was your typical protestant service, minus the organ, of course. It had been awhile since my friend had been to church. Many in the congregation flocked to him at the end to gi...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Art of Being Thankful

Yup! This entry is going to be totally cliché. After all, it is that time of year where we stop and think about what we are thankful for in our lives. So here it is. My list of thankful. 1.    One less kid home for the holidays Sean won’t be coming home for the holidays this year. He has been with me every year at Christmas since 1988. I will miss him dreadfully. However, I am so very thankful that he will be spending the holidays honoring fallen soldiers. I am thankful for the man of repute he has become. Most of all, I am thankful he is not one of the fallen. 2.   Unemployment Tony does not have a typical job down here. A few days a week, he drives a rickshaw for tips only and substitutes whenever he gets the opportunity. While we never know what we can count on for the budget, I know I can count on him to be there for the girls; to clean the house; to get the vacuuming done; and so much more. I cannot even fathom how he could enjoy working inside the...
1 comment
Read more