First day of school down and the end of week 1 is in sight! This day has been a point of anticipation since I accepted the position. I just couldn’t visualize what it would be like to meet my students and their parents. I couldn’t imagine what they would think of me or how I would connect with my students. Additionally, I was deeply concerned that I wouldn’t have the skills it takes to deliver my content to my students in a digestible form.

 

The first day of school quickly reminded me that “Kids are Kids”; no matter where they come from or the language they speak, they are kids. All kids want to know that they (1) have a safe space in the classroom and (2) they are cared for. On the first day, I was greeted with beautiful smiles and genuine enthusiasm despite the fact that many of my students admitted science was not their favorite subject and, for some, English proficiency was low. They were excited to get to know me as an individual and I was excited to get to know them; that’s what mattered the most.

 

In the past, I worked at schools where I often shared the language and cultural background of my students. I knew exactly what topics I could leverage to pique interest as well as the topics considered taboo. My fear entering this school year was simply not knowing! Now that I’m in the mix, I know the year will have its challenges, but I feel confident that I have the tools necessary to overcome them as I work to ensure positive student outcomes.