The new kids in class aren't always kids

It's that time of year again. I can almost smell the freshly sharpened crayons and taste the peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Yum. It's a time that excites little ones and older kids dread. That's right, it's time to go back to school. This is often a bittersweet time for teachers and administrators as they come back from not so lengthy summer vacations and dive head first into the simultaneously organized and chaotic academic year. They scurry about in a frenzy trying to organize last minute details and ready classrooms and although they understand too well that this career is not all apples and sunshine, their love of children and teaching brings them back each fall.

Love and absorbent little minds aside, how many of us are ready? I mean really ready. Please raise your hands. Now calm down. Let's not all speak at once.

Only kidding. Just as many recent education grads, this will be my first year teaching as a fresh out of college preschool teacher. I've had a lot of experience working with children of all ages and have co-taught as well, but this year I will be independently teaching my own classroom of children. With a classroom of three-year-olds in a fairly large facility, it is my responsibility to lead these kiddos on their journey to public school readiness. The creative teacher in me is utterly brimming with anticipation to prepare my classroom for these little learners and to guide them in new discoveries. However excited I may be, of course I am a little apprehensive as well. I want to do my best so that the children do their best. Hmm...seems like I remember a funny little children's book about a nervous teacher's first day of school. I wish I could remember the title. It would be perfect for the students (and myself) on that day.

It is also my first year as our director's right-hand girl and am I ever the diligent student, taking notes and running about like the proverbial chicken. Let's just say I'm learning it takes a whole lotta work to run a preschool, not to mention get one ready for back-to-school season. There are class listings, enrollment files to update, nap lists to organize, curriculum planning, purchases to be made for the new school year, emergency preparedness to prepare for, and...well, that's just the tip of the pencil.

I know there are many experienced administrators, teachers and other faculty that understand, aside from the hokey pokey, just what it's all about and could pass along some of that wisdom to the newbies of the fall. After all, the new kids in class aren't always kids.