The Beginning

Yesterday marked my first day as a teacher. The "real" path to teacherdom started two years ago June, and yesterday it felt great to be in a school helping students and getting paid to do so. It wasn't a classroom of my own, I substituted, but it felt right. If I had my own classroom right now I would love it, but I would be very unprepared. Substituting for a year, or a part of a year, seems like a great way to learn the ropes.

I'm a bit rusty from a summer of fun, and I quickly remembered that I'm too much of a pushover. I picked up another substitute assignment for tomorrow, and I intend to lay the hammer down if necessary. I'll be subbing at an elementary school, which means I get to deprive students of recess if they act up! ha ha! My only leverage in middle school is writing a positive or negative note for their regular teacher, which did not seem to hold nearly the sway of recess for elementary schoolers. The second I say "no recess" it gets awfully quiet.