spent three hours in my classroom today.

[ulysses]

The pencils are sharpened, the rules and consequences posted, the posters hung, the print-rich environment assured, the boards decorated and ready for quality student work, the room made as comfortable and inviting and multicultural as it can be made. The books are shelved and noted, the required classroom management notices posted, the principal's motto for the year emblazoned on my door. Bloom's taxonomy of educational rigor is in plain view.

Tomorrow, the lesson plans for the week and the syllabus for the year will be finalized as much as they can be at this point, the shirt and tie pressed, the truck packed with papers, prizes and breakfasts, the lawn mowed. We will go to a cookout with friends and I will try to chill.

School begins Monday morning. I teach a self-contained learning-disabled class of kids, mixed grades 6-8, in Vine City in Atlanta, just west of the Georgia Dome. All core subjects. I'm excited, I'm freaking. Here we go.

[Rick Myers]

1. Congratulations!!!

And GOOD LUCK!!! That sounds wonderful!!!

:thumbsup:

[Zomby Woof]

2. good luck!

The students are in good hands.

[HamHocks4Kerry]

3. You sound like a fantastic teacher.

Best wishes to you. Is this your first year to teach?

[ulysses]

4. thanks, y'all

HamHocks - this is my sixth year teaching, but my first teaching in a public school.

[HamHocks4Kerry]

6. I hope you make the transition well.

That's a noble profession--God bless you for working with these children.

[deadparrot]

5. As the...

daughter of two teachers (one of whom is a speech therapist), and the niece of a resource teacher at an extremely poor inner city school, I'd just like to say thank you. Being a teacher is tough; I could never do it. I've been volunteering at my aunt's school's summer school this summer, and just being there for a few hours was exhausting. I've gotta admire you. Teachers are awesome.

Best of luck!!

[flamingyouth]

7. That's great, uly!

You're going to be great! Can't wait to hear your stories as you go along. The kids are really going to love you.:D

[ulysses]

10. I hope so.

It's going to be a process, though.

[tech3149]

8. Our future is in your hands

treat it well and thanks for all you do.

[Dudley_DUright]

9. My wife was a school councilor, but Jeb cut funding for the program

so now she is starting her first year of teaching 2nd grade on Monday. She is equal parts excited and intimidated. I know that she (and you) will do a great job.

[ulysses]

11. all best to her!

And thanks, everyone. :hi:

[Pithlet]

12. Wishing you the best.

You seem to be as prepared as you can be, so relax, enjoy the weekend, and have fun on Monday! Those kids are lucky.

[ulysses]

13. thanks!

:hi:

[annagull]

14. Congrats, Uly!

I know you were looking for a good teaching position for a while, and those kids will have a teacher they will remember for the rest of their lives. There is no better work than helping people, you are a natural. Give our best to Mrs. Uly, too! :-)

[ulysses]

16. hey, Anna!

Thanks. We need to get together soon. Hi to John too, from both Cheryl and myself. :)

[liberalhistorian]

15. As a near-forty-year-old with a

severe learning disability that wasn't diagnosed until I was 16, when it was, for all practical purposes, really too late to do too much about it, and who has suffered all my adult life, everday, because of it, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching these kids. It is desperately needed, and not appreciated enough at all.

Remember, most of the rest of the world, even friends and family, often have a really tough time understanding this kind of disability, especially since it continues on throughout life (learning disabled is really a misnomer, since it has to do with how the brain processes and integrates sensory information it affects far more than just school and educational situations). They feel like outcasts, misfits, and will often feel very, very alone. You can be a tremendous help to them, as I'm sure you will be. I wish I had had teachers like you when I was suffering through school!

[ulysses]

18. congrats to you

for having worked through it to this point! Four of my five years teaching previously have been with LD kids, and I still can't even begin to imagine the challenge. Kudos. :toast:

As an educator, the whole thing is beyond what I can do myself, but I hope to do my part.

[liberalhistorian]

20. Doing your part is a big thing,

and it's really all that matters because that's all anyone can do!

[Jax]

17. Lucky kids ulysses

Public Schools score a win getting you as a teacher. I know you will learn too and share it here with us as well.

:thumbsup:

Thank you ulysses.

Jax

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Good luck, Uly!

Thanks for caring... :yourock: