Well today was the first day for our freshmen, and I'll be honest, if I were a freshmen coming into our high school for the first time, I would think that it was going to be the absolute best experience of my life. We trick them into thinking that we are ridiculously "hip" and "cool" by starting off the day with a deejay in the gymnasium blasting hip hop with a ton of upperclassmen cheering and dancing for the freshmen. It really is a pretty awesome experience and it helps kids feel a lot more comfortable within their new environment. Overall, it went as smoothly as it could; the first day is always the most hectic. The freshmen participated in a bunch of ice breaker activities and then followed their schedules so that they would have an easier time finding their classes come tomorrow. I got to meet the majority of the kids on my caseload and they seem like they'll be a fun group. I'm looking forward to when they come out of their shells and aren't as timid as they all are now.
At one point, right in the beginning of a science class I co-teach, a new first year teacher introduced himself to the class and began his lesson. I unfortunately had to stop him and say, "Mr. Science #2, this is actually Mr. Science #1's class." His response was, "Oh, is this like a co-teaching gig that we're doing?" I then had to explain to him that he was, in fact, in the wrong room and was attempting to teach the wrong class. He became extremely flustered and then realized he was supposed to be all the way on the other side of the building. So here is, yet again, my advice for new teachers: ALWAYS know your schedule and where you should be at any given time during the day; you must always attempt to appear more organized than your students. If you're teaching in a building that you are unfamiliar with, come into school a couple of weeks before classes start and walk around to familiarize yourself with your surroundings, especially if you're teaching in different classrooms.
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