the night before 4th grade

I've kind of felt off all day...even though I went back to work over a week ago it never really feels like I'm truly back until the kids walk through the door on that first day. I guess it felt like summer was really over...mostly because there was a cool crisp breeze today and it was hinting ever so slightly at fall. 

my home away from home

Tomorrow is my ninth first day of teaching...and I still get nervous. I try to remember that the kids are way more nervous than me. Once they are in my room though, it will all be fine, just like riding a bike! The first day of school is filled with so much anticipation and excitement...and to make it even more special I've been practicing a song on my ukulele just for them.  Some of them will think they got the 'weird' teacher and some of them will most likely think I'm the next Taylor Swift. Either way, I hope they always remember their first day of fourth grade.  

I felt like I had to get everything done TODAY...because for the next nine months my life is that of an exhausted school teacher. My house is clean, my laundry is done, my first day of school outfit is picked out. My toes are freshly painted because we all have those students who touch our feet or shoes and think we don't notice... All the things that I haven't had to think about for the past three months are all tumbling through my brain right now.  

So now I'm off to make myself fall asleep at the same time as my three year old. So long late night Netflix sessions. Tomorrow will be filled with newly sharpened pencils, crisp clean notebooks, and new shoes. It's going to be a good day :)