I have been teaching for 13 years!   I can hardly believe it.  In that time I have moved states, gotten married, had three kids, and went back to school myself – twice!  It has been amazing to think back to the wide-eyed girl who didn’t feel old enough to be a “real” teacher!

Note added after writing this post: I didn’t mean for this post to be quite this long.  Have you ever stopped and really reflected on how far you have come in your teaching career?  I had more to say than I thought and I sat and smiled and laughed as I wrote this.  Be sure to link up your own reflections after you read mine!

My classroom at both schools was a portable.  I ended up teaching in a portable for 7 years.  It really wasn’t as bad as it sounds.  I didn’t know any different so I thought it was quite spacious. I also had friends that were on a cart – I knew it could be worse.  I quickly chose not to use chairs and found that the more equipment I could remove from the room, the more spacious it was.  The portable had windows and two doors I could open to let fresh air in.  I thought it was wonderful.

I should also mention that at both schools we had several music teachers.  During this time elementary schools had general music, band, and orchestra.  There were often 1-2 band teachers, 1-2 orchestra teachers, and 2 general music teachers.  One general music teacher was full time and the other teachers traveled to multiple schools. The schools had a population of 1000-1200 students.  I loved having multiple teachers and really felt like I had coworkers that I could collaborate with directly at my school.

Since this time, band and orchestra were eliminated at the elementary level, and staffing has been reduced. Teaching music in my area is now much more lonely than it used to be.  I know most elementary music teachers are one of a kind at their building.

Were you given supplies and materials?

For my band program, I spent my money on additional instruments, music, and general classroom supplies (pencils and such).  I am not sure what the previous band teachers spent their money on but I remember thinking there was very little when I arrived to that school.

Some funny notes – I used a chalkboard the first year and wrote a mini-grant at the end of the year to get a white board.  I wonder if new teachers now have ever picked up a piece of chalk!  It is super messy if you are wondering!!  I also had a CD player, but still used the occasional cassette tape.  This was before iPods. (I’m old).

Most of that year is a blur now but I recall the moment right before the first class walked in very well.  I remember thinking “Here we go! I hope I remember what to say!”  Then introducing myself I remember not having a lot to tell about myself that I felt made me sound old enough to be their teacher!

The other moment came from my kindergarten class.  They came in the first day after lunch and half of them were crying and the other half were super sleepy.  At the time I had no concept of how to deal with these little people who were learning to be at school for the first time.  I threw most of the lesson I had planned out the window and we just sang familiar songs.  It worked well thank goodness but I was terrified!