Monday, August 23, 2010

Apples and School


Hi Everyone! Thank you for all your thoughtful comments. I am grateful for the support. Your personal input is so VALUABLE. I survived day number one of the 2010-2011 school year. Yahoo!

But first, Sunday I went for a nice long walk and found apples. Do these pictures remind you of the Robert Frost poem "After Apple Picking" from 1914? I love that poem.

I think I might need a little Robert Frost this autumn.


School! The halls were noisy. Some of the kids are VERY talkative, so I may have to be a tiny bit FIRM for a few days. They smiled a lot and they wrote. My head is spinning as I try to remember all the names, details, faces, announcements. Yikes!



You can see my friend and fellow teacher Melissa just under the map. She teaches one period a day with me to provide a bit of extra learning support for some of the kids. She's fun and encouraging.

There is so much to do. I can only manage so many details, you know? I'll leave home earlier tomorrow so I can think a bit before the kids come back at 8:00 am. I am feeling heaps and heaps of grace already. Do you have a fun school memory? Do you remember any of your school clothes? Some of the teachers looked VERY professional today. I was so hot as I was getting ready this morning. I felt wilted before I got there. Why don't I have any professional clothing? Must think about this.
Please eat an apple, sharpen a pencil, salute a school bus . . . and keep praying for me. Thank you (love!)

16 comments:

Kerri said...

Yay you made it through the day! I love apple trees all covered in fruit, I think they're gorgeous and magical.

Elderberry-Rob said...

I smiled when I saw in the picture your cosy chair and lamp, shame you can't have a cat for your lap to complete the picture! My school uniform was a maroon red tie and I died the front section of my hair to match age 15! Best lesson? art, subject for exam - an onion (changes as it dries out you see so a changing subject, minimum effort, maximum results - got top marks!).

A garden just outside Venice said...

I love your writing and kindness to other people!
Have a wonderful day!
xxx

Elizabethd said...

I remember how hard the first few days were when teaching a new class.
Praying that it will all fall into place.
My tutors at College always advised we trainee teachers...'Start hard, you can alwyas pull back when the discipline is settled'.

Elizabethd said...

I posted a comment and then it disappeared!
Praying that your term soon settles in...I do remember those first few days with a new class.

Leslie said...

I nearly got run over by a school bus yesterday! Canyoubeliveit? But this is Dallas and everyone is hurry hurry get out of my way.

Your classroom curtains are super CUTE!!!!! And what a treat to peek inside your room. Prayers abounding for you in Texas.

The dB family said...

Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your classroom! Sounds like you had a great first day and that most of the children were excited to be there.

When I eat my apple today, I will think of you and lift you up in prayer!

Blessings!
Deborah

Anonymous said...

Wow, your classroom has an armchair, a lamp and pretty curtains! Very "you"!

Well done dear friend on surviving your first day! Soon it will all be plain sailing and routine. :) Hugs! xxxx

Gigi said...

Oh Pom, I wouldn't worry about looking professional as long as you're comfortable and you aren't wearing your underwear on the outside ;-)?! Anyway, I know you look 'practically perfect in every way'.
And I love love your room. You've softened up the dreary institutional looking standard issue school room look so well. It looks homey and sweet -- just like you ( and I said homey, not homely ;-).
And yes, I remember my fall school 'wardrobes' very well. Leah and I were talking about that just the other day. My mother always bought me 'dark cottons' -- dark greens & reds, and navy blue -- mostly plaids. Of course, being the impractical person I am, I remember wanting pleated wool skirts and sweaters, but living in 'HOT as a depot stove' West Texas, wool wasn't a good idea until December -- maybe.
Bless you Friend!
G

Gumbo Lily said...

I love those apples! Did you ask to pick a few?

I noticed the various pretty curtains in your room as well as the comfy armchair, table and lamp. Of course, you'd make your room a cozy place to be.

Said a prayer for you today!
Jody

magsmcc said...

You know that line from the start of "You've got mail"? The bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils? I'm going to put pots of those around the house this week! We had school uniform from Primary School right up and only this morning our Principal was emphasizing a smart, professional dress code for all staff- so I think my hair braid will have to go before next week! Love the classroom= look at the space everyone has around them- you won't believe how tightly packed our classrooms are. Such room to breathe, to live and move and have your (academic) being!

Left-Handed Housewife said...

I loved this peek into your classroom!

For the first several years of my schooling, my mother always got me oxblood maryjanes with thick straps. I remember those and many plaid dresses with collars.

I say a prayer for you every morning.

xofrances

Angela said...

I used to spend much of the summer fantasising about My New Pencil Case, which I purchased the week before term started.
And I loved that feeling of starting writing in the first page of a new book [still do!!]

Bradley W. Maston said...

Wonderful times! I'm glad you are getting back into the swing of things. That is so very wonderful! Those kids won't know what hit them. Good luck with being firm. If you do it up front it may save the need for firmness later! :)
lovebrad

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Your classroom looks wonderful. I am thinking it is a good reflection of YOU and should make your kids feel GOOD.

Pom, did you realize that you wrote a little poem when you left your comment on my HONEST KITCHEN posting. I laughed when I read it.

Good luck. I'll think of you (and all our great teachers) when we eat our Waldorf salad tonight.

Cheers!

Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island

April said...

Those apples look delicious! I wish we had an apple tree like that.

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