Duality

Wide-eyed student teachers meet wider-eyed fourth graders in front of classroom doors all over America on Tuesday. Count me in.

Setting up for classes this week at BC elementary was an intense 3-day learning experience. My cooperating teacher, Mrs. P., couldn't be any better. She's one of the few people I've met recently who talks a lot but also has good stuff to say. We've developed a nice repoire so far.

I've learned that competiton between teachers does exist and I should try to ignore it.

I've learned that support personnel; reading specialists, aides and special ed. teachers are the gold nuggets in the flowing stream of school.

I've learned that it's important to touch base with the third grade teachers of our fourth graders BUT don't put too much stock in what they say.

I've learned that assigning the right seat to elementary students is as complicated as a wedding seating chart full of dramatic family scenarios and crazy in-laws.

I've learned that less is more.

I've learned that I don't want to be the kind of teacher who calls a former student a "fucking asshole", something I heard from a third grade teacher on Thursday.

Most of all, I've learned that being a teacher is surreal. Blasts from the past materialize in the form of hallway smells and eerily familiar teacher faces and voices and huge, funky tractors like this one blocking a road in Deutschland