The First Day of School!

I have hurried about my classroom with my co-teacher over the last two weeks preparing for our students; discussing how we should run our first day.  What activities did we have planned?  How should we greet them?  Where will they sign in?  How do we help sad children and their parents feel comfortable?  What books will we read?  There are millions of things to do and many questions to answer.  Although the planning and preparations are essential, the beginning of the school year never feels "real" until the first child enters the classroom.

We began school yesterday.  It was a beautiful day; sun shining, the buzz of children filling the air around the Nature Center.  I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.  As children filtered into our classroom, I felt my heart overflow.  There is an excitement that surrounds the first day of school that only exists on that day, in that moment. 

I smiled at each student and greeted them by name.  I comforted the two children in my class that have a hard time separating from their mothers.  I busied myself; looking at artwork and encouraging them to express themselves and tell me about their drawings, reading stories and listening to the tales of their summers that slipped away so quickly.  I heard of new babies, new puppies, and new houses.  A few children even expressed their happiness that I was with them on that exciting morning.  However, it wasn't until we ventured outside to our forty acres of woods, meadows, and ponds, that my heart bubbled over.

I started our walk staying ahead of our students; sandwiching them between my co-teacher and I.  I led them past the Visitor's Center and under a canopy of grape vines.  We stopped and collected leaves whose colors excited them and rolled over logs to see who lived underneath.  One little boy and I walked side by side down the trail, the others giggling behind us.  He was quiet and I watched him as he looked around with excitement in his expression.  He touched the leaves of the trees gently as we walked by.  I caught him sniffing the air and closing his eyes; taking in all that the forest had to offer.  It was then that he turned to me and said, "We get to come outside every day?"  I responded, "Yes, every day, rain or shine!"  He paused and looked around again, "I think that's great," he said, without looking in my direction but grinning widely.  "I think that's great too," I whispered.  He turned to me and smiled before running ahead of me and jumping on a log.

The rest of our walk was full of mini-lessons about the ecology around us and reminders of rules and how to be kind to one another.  However, it was that moment with that little boy that resonated with me.  It wasn’t the words he said, but the expression on his face; pure wonderment and admiration.  I don’t know when most adults lose that sense of wonder, but I hope that through my passions and my teaching that I am able to preserve it for this child and so many more.