Now that I'm a veteran teacher...

Tomorrow I will have students for the first time since June. Am I excited? Not really. I know I'm supposed to be, but the first week of school -- the first day of school, especially -- really stresses me out. I know it will be fine. I know I will survive. I just struggle to learn all those names and feel as though I have a connection to these people wandering into my room and hanging out with me for the next 42 minutes.

With my sophomores, I'm planning to jump right into a lesson. I know some of them from having them as freshmen last year. They're good kids and know what to expect. We'll begin with one of my favorite short stories, Daphne du Maurier's "The Birds." If you haven't read it, you should. It's what the Hitchcock film is based on, but the story is sooooooo much scarier. It sets a supremely disturbing mood, which is what we'll be focusing on. And then on Friday, we're going to color birds. There's a small bit of research that will accompany this, but I think the kids and I will all be tired by Friday.

There will be no napping for me after the final bell, though. Want to know why? Because I'm going to a concert! Dispatch and OAR! My friend Kristin and I got online approximately 5 seconds after tickets went on sale last winter, I believe it was, and secured spots right in front of the stage. Dispatch is one of my most favoritest bands ever and I've seen them several times and they are always incredibly awesome. OAR is good too. I've also seen them a bunch, but Dispatch is better.

Anyway, here's something crazy: My friend Erin texted the other day to find out what Phil, Brock, and I were doing on Friday and I was like, "Hmm... I wonder what she has in mind..." BECAUSE I LEGIT FORGOT ABOUT THE CONCERT! I thought it was next week!!! So I've been very excited ever since I was informed of the show's actual date. I'm going to make my students listen to Dispatch and OAR while we color on Friday.

That's all for today.