How to know if you are a teacher...

I've been a real live teacher for three weeks now, and I can't lie and tell you that I'm not tired. I am...but I'm also loving the world of teaching. Though my time so far has been short I feel like I'm falling comfortably into the role of teacher. My arm is covered with marker from the posters I made for my students. Most books I read are on a third grade level. I interchange terminology such as differentiated instruction, guided reading, and IEP like I know what I'm talking about. Most importantly, I have the bags.

I do not refer to bags under my eyes, but literal bags of supplies, posters, and activities that follow me around day to day. As I walked down the hallway to my classroom last week a veteran teacher poked her head out and saw me wobbling down the hall backpack filled tight and bags on each arm. 

She exclaimed, "I can already tell you are a teacher by the amount of things you are carrying." She laughed and returned to her room. I know it was funny, but in a strange way it was a sentimental moment to me. I am a teacher, and while I might be fresh from the farm, I'm as ready as all of them. 

Don't Sniff the Smelly Markers

My hands are covered with marker and I can smell a lingering Mr. Sketch fragrance dancing about my room. I'm warm, followed by periods of blasting air conditioning. At the end of the work day I have more work to do, and a desperate need to hydrate. I think day in and day out about how to help my students. I guess I've become a teacher.

My absence from this blog is not an indicator for the future, I will continue to write. If anything, it is an indicator of my need to perfect the art of teaching before I return to the art of blogging. Obviously, I am not a perfect teacher yet, but I return momentarily to reflect. I sit back, sigh, and think, did I really just grade something? It's a little scary to think that the future of these children has been laid into my hands. I think I might be ready. 

Consequently, this is also my hundredth post. Happy hundredth post as I continue to think about how to teach rounding to the hundredth place.