Take It or Leave It

[Editor’s note: No-sleep-till-Brooklyn is the pseudonym for a second-year kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn.]

I’ve been feeling rather mole-ish lately. Hidden away in my classroom for the past five days, I finally emerged on Friday feeling satisfied.

Meeting area complete with rug and calendar – check. Library composed of leveled books – check. Computers and listening center prepared – check. Adorable reading nook – checkity check. Floors clean and clear of ANY excrement left over from last year – CHECK.

Every now and again during my five days of preparation, I braved leaving my classroom. Out in the hallway, I climbed over stray desks and pushed around the rubble to check in on the new teachers, who all seem pleasantly optimistic. Reminds me of myself last year, sigh.

Striking up conversation with the new teachers, they casually dropped questions about my first year of teaching and what the students are like. I thought about telling them the truth, I really did. But then I more realistically thought, How do you politely tell someone to drop everything and run?

I’m reveling in the fact that I feel like wonder woman. I survived a year of teaching (hear hear!) and feel moderately ready for year two. Strolling into my school happy is a new feeling. Setting up my classroom has not been overwhelmed with staple removal like last year. Meeting the new teachers and reconnecting with the old was a breeze.

But listen up! I am not saying this year is going to be any easier. No no. I still get anxious thinking about the children about to inhabit my classroom. Nothing will be easy about teaching kindergarten, but there’s something to be said for going into a year with a sense of confidence and security that this year will be better than the last. THAT I’ll take.

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