Today I went back to work. Yes, fortunately or unfortunately I have a job. Of course I do, since I found the idea of not having one rather appetizing.
Yes I am teaching four-year-olds. 19 of them. And the more I htink about it, the more I believe they will be far too young and I’ll be bored silly by Christmas. Though I ought to give them a chance, reserve judgment until they have a chance to charm me. I had many reservations about last year’s five-year-olds, and I ended up falling in love with them. Most of them anyway.
I must have a sign across my forehead that says, give me the worst classroom in the school. Last January I started in a tiny little L-shaped room that looked like a blind alley. Luckily I changed with another Preparatory (kindergarten) teacher in April. This time the room isnt quite as bad, but there is no promise of exchange to lighten its bad points. It’s small, especially when you consider the children have to take a nap on cushions spread out for the purpose. Barely room for the tables and a floor sitting/playing area. And it’s an oven, with big bare windows catching all the morning and a good part of the afternoon sun.
The worst thing is that instead of the 3 five-year-old classes the school had expected there are 5, so I dont know why the headmistress didnt give me one. Then I wouldnt have to go back and start from scratch with the younger children.
All in all, I am in a negative frame of mind. Nothing unusual about that on September first I suppose. And we had to sit through a 30 minute welcome meeting held by the school owner, in Spanish, I really wonder that those who dont understand that language dont fall asleep. Bad enough understanding it. I can see I’ll be getting in trouble all ready. He emphasized how we are not supposed to talk with the parents about anything other than their own child and only in meetings scheduled by the school secretary. Then he went on to say how important the parent-teacher relationship was. As long as it is limited, I guess. I became very friendly with some of the parents last year, and got in trouble for it then. I do hope I have some nice parents this time too, to hell with the restrictions upon our interaction. What are they going to do, fire me? Huh.