Classroom Dream, Sale, and 500!

Classroom Dream

You know those panicky dreams you have the night before the first day of school?  Mine is almost always the same; I am frantically wandering around campus looking for my classroom and my kids.  Funny thing about that is that it basically happened my first year at middle school.

I had left my elementary class (something I still feel bad about) and had taken over a newly pulled together sixth grade class at the middle school.   With only one year experience behind me, I was just a tad bit overwhelmed.  I didn't want anyone to think that I couldn't handle it and didn't ask for help until it was too late; I just cried in the bathroom every day, and on the way home, and on the way back to work the next morning.  When I finally asked for help, the principal realized that the veteran teachers had done that horrible thing of "donating their problem" to the new class.  Needless to say, he flipped out.  After the crying (from me) and the ranting (from admin) was over, I had their full support.  They came in 3 to 5 times a day, gave me an aide, and all the back up I had been missing.  That group is still a legend.

Late in the spring that year, after they were almost domesticated, our schedule got all flipped around for testing.  One morning, during my regular 1st period prep, I was chatting with one of the veteran teachers in the lounge.  He had my kids in P.E. and was doing his best to support me with incentives in P.E.  About 15 minutes into our conversation, we looked at each other and ran out the door in opposite directions.  He was their P.E. teacher!  If we were both in the staff lounge, that meant our kids were lose on the campus and unsupervised.  We found them running in back and forth in between the room and P.E., frantically trying to find one of us.  Luckily, they had not committed murder and mayhem, that morning.  So, it is easy to figure out why I have that dream every year.

However, last week I had a dream about finding the perfect classroom in another building on campus.   It was the perfect classroom!  It had two doors (I only have one door), huge windows, and beautiful wood floors!  Once I got inside the room, I realized that it was really four rooms with low walls,  built around an atrium.  The atrium had benches and beautiful beautiful grass.  It had a simple gate across the door.  I was so happy, because my dogs could come to work with me! 

One of the rooms was a sunken library area with couches.  It was entirely open to the rest of the room.  As I walked past the library, I saw that the next room was a craft room/science lab.  It had high sturdy wooden tables and matching stools.  A sink with running water (no running water in my real room), a stove, and a full size refrigerator - stainless steel (maybe I have been watching too many Kitchen Nightmares on Hulu).  So much counter space (no counter space at all in my real room)!  We could cook, do art, and perform real science experiments!

The next room was full of sturdy round wooden tables (the tables in classroom regularly require me to tighten the screws) with comfy chairs.  There were cubbies lining one wall for the students to hang their backpacks, and huge walk in closet that connected to a smaller teacher workroom.  There was a built in projector with a (working )SMART Board, and wonderful huge half circle table at the front for small groups.  Adjacent to this room was the computer lab.  It was lined with 36 brand new computers and had work tables in the center.  Since all the "walls" were low walls, I could see the whole room from anywhere.  I was furious that I someone else might have this room!  It had to be mine!  For the first time, I was going to pull seniority, scheme, and connive if I had to...anything to get this room and call it my own!

Then I woke up.  I was so sad.

Don't forget that the Happy Birthday to Me Sale is ending today!  Make sure you pick up a few items! 

Finally, a big THANK YOU to my followers!  I woke up this morning and found this beautiful email waiting for me!
 
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

7 comments

  1. Wow! Congrats on 500!!!! That is so unfair when class lists are not created fairly. That's everyone's nightmare. Have a great night!
    -Lisa
    Grade 4 Buzz

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  2. WOOOOHOOOOO...you made it!!! 500 followers!!! Your dream is craaaaaazy. I don't ever have school dreams. I have dreams about waiting tables and being in the weeds and not being able to catch up. I quit waiting tables 3 years ago, so it's so weird I still dream about it!
    Alison
    Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'

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  3. I had a class a bit like that my 3rd year, and hated every moment of it. Good on you for sticking it out!!
    Erin
    Learning to be awesome

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  4. Congratulations on surviving last year and making it to 500 followers! I had a class like you had - I felt like I had post traumatic stress syndrome - it took me all summer to recuperate. I hope you have a much improved year this coming year. I, too, have school dreams - it seems like the older I get (I'm 53), the more intense my dreams get. I enjoyed your post.

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  5. Yay! You made it! I'm ALLLLMOST at 400! I have lots of dreams about my classrooms during the setup phase. I stress over it too much, wanting everything to be just perfect. In reality, I would need an endless budget and a HUGE room. Not gonna happen! ;)

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  6. Wow… that classroom sounds AMAZING! I'm going to be a first year teacher in a middle school this year, and I haven't seen my room yet. I'm just hoping for LOTS of space and no desks (I teach drama, so a room full of desks and tables would be a nightmare since I don't have an auditorium space to use).

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  7. YAY!!! Congrats on this amazing blogging milestone! I wanted to let you know that I have been trying the vinegar-in-a-apray-bottle trick to that you and I talked about to keep my dogs out of the garbage and it is WORKING!! (It also keeps them out of the dishwasher when I'm loading it -- they are so gross!) All I have to do is go near the bottle and they run. It is awesome!! Thanks for your help!!

    Jennifer
    Mrs. Laffin's Laughings

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