The Beginning of Year 32 in Early Childhood Education (It Can't Have Been That Long!)

     Here I sit, on a Sunday night, with my classroom not done, an incomplete class list, and no firm schedule.  Staff meetings begin Thursday.  Open House is the evening of the 17th.  Kindergarteners start, full day, on the 18th.
     That sounds like a lot, right?  Here are the positives:

• I was blessed to spend big chunks of time with family, renewing and strengthening our family bonds, including a total (here and there) of SIXTEEN days with our beautiful, spunky, hilarious granddaughter.  HEAVEN!
• I spent a couple of days sharing ideas with some younger, energetic, teachers, which doesn't look like a lot on paper.  However, planning with peers is ALWAYS energizing!
• This is the start of my fifth year in this school district, in the same building.
• About once a week, out teacher Bible study met to share, encourage, support, and cheer each other on!
• Even though our schedule has not yet been finalized, I have plans typed out on a Word document, so that once we get a schedule, I can just copy and paste into the correct cell of my spreadsheet.  That being said, plans are finished through September. 
• This year, I decided that I was not going to spend full days getting my classroom ready for the beginning of the year.  I have been going in for a couple of hours each morning, while it's still cool enough for the dogs to be outside.   I thought ahead to copies I needed for Parent Folders at Open House and got them copied over the summer.  I also had copies made of some of my favorite activities to use the first few days of school.  I also got ALL of the copies of take-home letters copied for our phonics program.  Whew!  That's a lot I didn't need to worry about! I have friends who are spending quite a bit of time at school.  Sometime, I think to myself, "What am I missing?"  Then I remind myself of the pre-planning I did at the end of last school year.
• I am reading THE MOST FABULOUS BOOK--EVER about teaching.  It is by an author I became aware of through an online book study/devotions/Bible study last summer.  It's called, Unshakable: 20 ways to enjoy teaching every day...no matter what, by Angela Watson.  If you are a teacher, reading this blog post, I highly recommend it.  I'm only on chapter 3 and am already finding things I can change, as well as things that validate my current practices!
• Two words:  Essential Oils!  There is a blend called "Serenity"  and another called "Balance."  Those are my two go-tos.  Also, lavender, which is calming.  I may diffuse it in my classroom, depending on what allergies I may or may not have.
• Speaking of my classroom, although our class lists are incomplete, pending the transfers, over half of my class are siblings of older students in the building!!  I already have strong relationships with those families!!  BONUS!

     So, bring on those new kiddos!  I am ready!!  It's going to be a GREAT school year!  :)