Welcome to Miss J's class

My best friend officially begins her life as a teacher on Tuesday, when 23 first and second graders pile into her class room and look to her for guidance. She's nervous. She's taught before, under the supervision of others, an well as in Japan. But now she has her own class room. I spent today helping her set it up for the very first time. It was fun!

Her school is less than a block from my apartment, and is a building that I am quite fond of, and secretly have wished to see the inside of for some time. Today I got my chance.


My first task was to sort through her supply order, make sure everything was there, and assemble a pencil box for each child. I have a bit of neurosis when it comes to stationary goods - school supplies to be more specific - I love them, always have...there's just something about a fresh note book, or a brand new package of never before used wax crayons...it makes me happy...very happy. So I set out sorting through cardboard boxes stamped with a big green Grand & Toy with my spirits high! 23 plastic boxes waiting for thier bright eyed receipients each containing: 2 HB pencils, 1/2 pink pearl earser, 1 pencil sharpener, 1 pair scissors with safty lid, 1 package 24 wax crayons, and 1 package 24 coloured pencils.

From there I labeled a duotang for each student for math, spelling, social studies and science...it's strange that after writting the word spelling (or any word for that matter) 23 times you can't tell if you have it spelled correctly or not.

We moved furniture, cut out laminated apples, cleaned white boards, made name tags, un-packaged magnets, hung posters, moved furniture again, snooped in other teachers rooms for guidance, shopped for books, supplies and containers for supplies, ate lunch on the road between school and shops, cleaned some more, moved furniture yet again, and after 9 hours had passed, her classroom had been transformed from a nearly bare room, to the begining of a room that will foster young minds!

I am so proud of her!