Reflections on the first day back...

Wow:  the first day of school always leaves me feeling as if I've spent the day in an airport, surrounded by a sea of unknown faces... 

I think my class count was about 180 over six periods, with 36 being my largest class.  Yipes - standing room only!  Good thing I have a few extra chairs scattered about the corners of my room.  I started working on the students' names, and lo and behold,  every other girl seems to be named Rachel.  Last year's popular name was Katy, in all of its incarnations (Katy, Katie, Kati, Kat, Cat, etc.), so I guess Rachel is a nice change.  As for the boys, their names aren't too remarkable, but they are HUGE.  Oh my gosh, what are we feeding these kids?  Yes, they are 11th and 12th graders, but geeze!  Just imagine a classroom full of gigantic boys and gaggles of giggling girls, and repeat for six periods a day... 

But seriously, I do love the first day of school  -- it always holds such promise.  The school is squeaky clean, the hallways are clear, pencils are sharpened, books are neatly lined up as they wait for distribution... Everyone has an A on the first day, everyone is on equal footing, no one is ahead, no one is already behind (except those who haven't done their summer reading.  But that is fodder for another post...). 

I was ready, too.  Thanks to the nice long summer mandated by the Texas legislature, I felt rested and rejuvenated.  I was awake at 4:30, ready to don  my official first-day-of-school dress today, the same one that I have worn on the first day for the last eight years (Seriously.  No, I'm not a candidate for What Not To Wear:  the dress is a classic,  a snappy little red number, crisp enough to withstand the sweltering heat and humidity of a the late summer in Houston. Really, its a great dress.  You should see it!)  Anyway, it is a "go-to" dress, one that I put on when I need to feel particularly confident.  And it worked its magic again...  What a great day. 

Class size,  a slightly addled brain, and tired legs aside, I think I'll go back tomorrow.  How about you guys?