This week I learned:

• Its ok to not always finish everything
• Curriculum Night
• Igor Stravinsky

So this week, I want to share a few key insights from my third week of teaching second grade. First off, I've got to give a shoutout to my secret weapon: the teacher next door. She’s been teaching for 14 years, and I’m learning so much from her. A lot of what my students enjoy about me probably comes from what I’ve picked up from her!

One big lesson I’ve learned is that you won’t always finish everything in your lesson plan. There are constant interruptions—fire drills, kids getting picked up, or other disruptions—so flexibility is key. I’m considering condensing lessons into shorter chunks to account for these interruptions.

Another major point is how important it is to build relationships with students. A veteran teacher told me that if students don’t trust you or care about what you’re saying, they won’t listen. Building that trust makes all the difference in how they receive the lessons.

This week was also my first *Curriculum Night*, where I presented the structure of our day and the school’s expectations to the parents. I was nervous, but I found that as long as I was honest and sincere, the parents were receptive. Now that I’ve done it once, I have a good base for next year and can even improve it.

Music plays a big role in my classroom environment, and I’m currently using Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue*, *chillhop*, and *binaural beats to help the kids focus. Funny enough, I tried playing Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite one day, thinking it would be relaxing, but it was way too intense for the kids!

I’m also working on staying calm throughout the day. Teaching can get stressful, and I’ve noticed how wound up I can get, so I’m making a conscious effort to relax. Fridays are also turning into a day for fun projects, which the kids love. I’m realizing how important it is to have hands-on activities that keep them engaged and excited.

If you’d like to support my class, I’ve attached my Amazon wish list, and you can also adopt my class by sending me a DM. I’m really enjoying this journey and can’t wait to keep sharing it with you all. I’m thinking about moving these reflections to a podcast platform, so stay tuned for that!

My Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls...