Early Childhood Technology

I’m moving on up . . . to the first grade.  I’ve spent the last six years very happily entrenched in the world of the kindergartener.  I really didn’t want to move.  I don’t particularly like change.  Then again, I am so delighted to have a job – working in a private school in Michigan, that I’ll do anything that is necessary.

So I’ve been mulling over the change to take place.  The truth of the matter is that I’ve taught first grade before, but I was a new teacher and it wasn’t my best teaching experience.  But as a friend pointed out, that was then and most experienced teachers look back and their beginning years and say oh, yeah – I’m so much better than I was then!”   As we grow and mature we get better at the art of teaching.

What it comes down to it, there are two things that I get stuck on: One, I have fully accepted the identity of a kindergarten teacher.  In fact, when I fell in love with teaching kindergarten I felt that I came home, that I’ve always been a kindergarten teacher at heart – so  now who am I if not a kindergarten teacher?

Second, I know I’m a really good kindergarten teacher, I know that sounds conceited, but I know and love and live and breathe kindergarten – I really am good at it – the way a confident teacher who loves her job is good.  I have a fear.  What if I’m not as good as a first grade teacher as I am a kindergarten teacher?

Well, this is it.  The change has been made.  I’ve new curriculum to learn.  I have a new team teacher to teach with.  I’m delighted that I’ll have my returning students – we had a fabulous year last year and I’m excited to continue to grow with them!  So – I’m using this process to expose my fears and face them head on.  I’m ready to begin this new school year with a Can Do attitude. 

My principal has faith that I will do a great job, my close friends and cheerleaders have perfect confidence in me.  Now I just need to grab hold of that faith that I will do everything in my power to be the best teacher I can be.  I have a lot at stake, not only my reputation as a teacher, which I take very seriously, especially in the private school community, but my daughter will be in my class again this year.  I owe it to all my students, parents, administration and co-teacher to begin the school year with a positive and enthusiastic attitude.

We’re going to have a great year!