Exhausted.

That's currently the only word to describe how I feel.
I'm exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally.

Overall, my first week as a "real" teacher went well.  I've already had an eye opening experience as to how different these students are even from the ones I worked with at my first school.  The needs are completely different. This being said, after one week I have grown to love these loud, obnoxious, over-talkative 5th graders.  I didn't realize the bond I had with them until I had to leave the class for 1/2 day today to do some testing. I came back in and saw how crazy the class was without me. It was then that I realized that they need me (not because I'm some sort of miracle worker, but because I believe I can be that one constant in their life; the one person who has high expectations for them and isn't afraid to hold them to it).  Even though it kills me to be the "tough, strict" teacher (TOTALLY not my personality) I think they are growing to respect me for it. We are FAR from perfect, but with a little encouragement and constant reminders of respect, I really think we are going to go far this year. I constantly tell them that they are better than the way they are acting, and I know it. I'm not going to let them fail. I refuse.

Today, we had our first really great discussion in class. We were discussing Ruby Bridges, and for the first time in my life, I realized that I was the minority race in the classroom. I decided to take this time as a learning moment and run with it. The experiences the students shared from their own lives were amazing.

I think this was a great way to start of our semester together and really getting to know each other through our discussions. Needless to say, I'm in desperate need of this weekend to rest, recoop, and oh! pick my dress up that came in 4 months early! I'm so excited to see it/get to be one step closer to making July 16 a reality!