Orientation Week

Alright, so now I am almost done with my first week of work. My feelings: excited, nervous, exhausted, unsure, and so much  more. This first week, oh dear readers, will be slightly challenging for you. Every day you will have meetings out of the wazoo. Which is good! It means your administration is trying to get you set up. However, it also means you're going to have to process a lot of information which will drain you. (Trust me, I know this.) So here are some tips:

• Take notes. All the time. Keep it in the same notebook so you can reference it. Then use that notebook throughout the year to update notes/add new information.
• Ask questions. I mean, you're a teacher! We encourage questions, so don't be afraid to ask them. In fact, I have probably driven my Administrator and Assistant Administrator crazy. I ask so many questions, and I have a tendency to hound them until I've gotten my answer. Maybe a little risky so early, but because my school is so proud of their high standards, I've taken the risk. They know that I just want to give them the best, so they've helped me a lot.
• Try to get out of your room as much as possible. I know, it's scary this first week because you have so much to do. But if you followed the advice in my first post (aka: plan during the summer) you will be covered in that area. Getting to know your colleagues is really important, especially because you will need their help. Now I'm a little challenged in that area because I get pretty shy/anxious about meeting new people. However, I've started to establish a budding friendship (I think...) with some of my fellow teachers. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE! Don't be the loner in your room locked up and alone.
• Sleep. You are processing so much information that your brain is on overload. Not only are you learning a ton of new information, but you also are stressed and a roller coaster of emotions trying to get ready. Do yourself (and your classroom) a favor and go to bed early. 
• DON'T STAY ALL NIGHT!!! This is your first week, and you don't want to set that precedent. It'll only burn you out and cause you to be even more tired. Staying late is okay, but don't be like me and stay from 7:30am - 7:10pm and try to get things done. You will leave feeling dead and the next day will be hard - you'll be zombie like from such a long day. During the year you will have days where you need to escape and relax. If you set the habit/expectation of staying late every day now...you won't be able to escape it.

This week has been exciting for me, so don't worry! You'll be finding out about your students and putting all your dreams into reality. Trust me, you will love it, so don't worry! It can be a little crazy at times, but this whole week I have repeatedly stated "I'm so excited. I'm so excited. I'm so excited." Even though I'm still working right now (reading the student's summer reading assignment) I can still say with confidence: I'm so excited!!!