My first day of work was amazing! The bus ride to work was a little awkward, as I didn’t know any of the kids (the teaching assistants have to ride with them). They all yelled out, “Who’s that TA [teaching assistant]?’ and then no one said anything to me for the rest of the ride. I was really nervous coming into my first day of work. I got lost around the school a little here and there, but I actually managed to check in Headquarters and show a lady where the bathrooms were despite that. The kids all had their little community time, then we went out to homeroom. Being a science faculty member, I have no homeroom. With that said, my mentor went over what we would be doing in class for the day: the idea was to see if tiring out your arm would affect your handwriting. The classes showed varied results. I had trouble guiding our first class to the science classroom. The first section was also somewhat unenthusiastic, compared to the one that immediately followed. The second section was completely into it, and a certain Scholar in that class was really into it. They were talking about water condensation and if aluminum foil helped the leaking of her water bottle. There was a bit more talkativeness, both good and bad, from the second and third classes.

I’m happy that I got to know the TA’s a bit more and that I feel a bit more comfortable talking to them. I can be quite the introvert, as one of them calls it. We’ve all been sharing laughs and the like, and I love that. The classrooms are somewhat iffy, and the seating and desks that we have to bear with in the center of the “pod” room structure are relatively subpar. But I guess I’ll have to deal with it. I spent a lot of time doing nothing and just observing, writing a few notes here and there. My mentor does a nice job of teaching, and overall, the kids seemed pretty into it. I had lunch with the TA’s, and then kinda hanged around here and there at break. I spent my third and fifth periods grading Learning Extension Packets and then Practice ISEE exams. The ISEE exams are graded on some sweet iBook G4s! Yesssss! I pretty much have the best boss anyone could ever have. She’s so upbeat, so into the whole thing, and so fun. She always asks how we’re doing and always makes sure we’re up to speed. I have a lot to learn from this experience with her and everyone else.

I’ve finally been acquainted with my mailbox and my little personal space in the faculty lounge. Speaking of which…I LOVE the faculty lounge and headquarters! Best two places ever! We get a fridge to put stuff in, we get nice quiet space to grade things…everything I could ever want. I came in this day nervous, and came out in such high spirits. I was so happy, so giddy; being there from 8:30 to 5 couldn’t shake me (faculty meeting kept me there till 5)!