Last week I spent three days preparing for the new school year, getting reacquainted with teachers I hadn’t seen all summer, and getting to know new members of our community. It’s always great when teachers from other schools join our team. They bring a fresh perspective to curriculum and new ideas to share. As we started digging in to the new standards and how they will help us enhance the learning of all of our students, I was thankful for colleagues who are energized by shared thinking.
Over the summer I had the opportunity to participate in a Twitter chat around Peter Johnston’s new book, Opening Minds. Not only was it a wonderful professional development experience, but I felt connected to so much good thinking from teachers across the country. One of my goals for this school year is to continue to use technology to connect and learn.
The students arrive on Tuesday, and I am anxious to see their eager faces as the buses pull up for drop off. It’s always amazing to see how much they’ve grown over the summer, what books they are anxious to talk about, and what special outfits they have picked out for that important first day. The kindergarteners will be shy and perhaps a little confused, but we will be ready to help them feel comfortable. And I expect that even the fifth graders who may appear confident on the outside may need a little reassurance that this year will be their best year ever.
I hope all of you have a fantastic, rewarding year full of learning! I’m ready!