We are thrilled to have Marla Muntner guest blog for us today. Marla has spent most of her professional life supporting teaching and learning—inside and outside of the classroom. She’s worked for newspapers, nonprofits, public schools, and education companies. As the former Marketing and Communications Manager for Teachstone, she thrived on creative work through designing instructional programs, managing complex projects, leading creative teams, and designing engaging communications materials.
I don’t have kids. But I do have an amazing five-year old goddaughter. Last week her parents and I put her on the bus for her first day of kindergarten. While she waited at the bus stop, she bounced around in her shiny slicker in the early morning fog, chanting, “I’m so nervous! I’m so nervous! I’m so nervous!”
But when the bus came, she took a deep breath, marched over with her pink backpack bouncing along behind her, and climbed right up those steps. Watching her go got me thinking about the first days of school from my past and prompted me to ask my Teachstone colleagues to share how they felt as they started the school year. Here’s what they said:
- I felt starchy! I went to Catholic school, where we had to wear uniforms, and the uniforms always felt starchy—stiff and scratchy and, like me, not quite relaxed into the routine yet.
- I was excited! I would wait for days on the steps for the school schedule to come to find out which teachers I would have and who would be in my classes. It was always exciting to start fresh—new classes and new school supplies.
- I fell down the stairs on my first day of high school. The word "mortified" comes to mind. I was trying so hard to not look like a freshman that I tripped over my own two feet!
- As a young student (K-5), on the bus ride to school on the first day, I remember questioning myself about what certain things meant. I could usually come up with the definitions but I would delve deeper and deeper into the word and it’s meaning until I didn’t have the answer, which would send me into a tizzy. I guess it was some weird way of preparing myself, but boy was it nerve-racking.
- My answers depend on the grade level. In elementary school, I was excited; I was challenged in my learning, eager to absorb all sorts of information and try new things. I loathed grades 6-10; I did not fit in with the other kids, was picked on, teachers did not stimulate my learning, nor capture my attention—and I did not enjoy school. By my junior and senior years, between working 20-30 hours a week, playing sports, doing homework, and helping to raise my younger sibling, I never had enough energy.
- I remember feeling nauseated—I’ve never been good at first experiences; I find it unsettling to walk into a situation that I'm unable to visualize beforehand!
- I was anxious. Both as an educator and as a student, it was always a scary time. What will my class/teacher be like? Will I totally make a mess of things?
- As a child I often dreaded the first day of school, because we moved a lot and it was not unusual for me not to know anyone yet.
- I was anxious and nervous about being in the right class at the right time.
- I was always curious and excited to discover what would happen to me, what I would learn about, and who my friends would be.
To me, this collection of memories provides a useful reminder about all that students bring into the classroom (along with their backpacks) each day. What do you recall feeling on the first day of school? Share your comments below.
