First thing, I sat in on a department meeting, met some fellow teachers and got a tour of the school. I was taken into the main office and a couple things struck me really all I can describe it as is an odd feeling. They are:
1. I was introduced to everyone by their first name. Teachers apparently don't call each other Mrs. Smith and Mr. Harris outside of the classroom. Even the principle is Shawn, I feel so improper but I certainly don't expect to be Ms. Kern all the time.
2. Jessica (my cooperating teacher) led me straight back behind the counter of the attendance and main office. Just walked right on back. Now I haven't been in a middle school as anything but a student where you get the stink eyes from the office ladies saying "walk back here and you will wish you hadn't woken up this morning" the instant you walk in. But now! Now I am 'of the ranks' that just waltz wherever they want and no one questions it. This new power is invigorating.
3. The lunch ladies are all buddies! We went into the teachers lounge during our prep period to meet the lunch ladies who all regularly sit around the table reading the paper and having a good time with their matching hair nets and therapeutic shoes. Ok, that's not fair. But really, I had no idea that they all were friends, they always seemed so crusty back there. (Some of them really did have their hair nets on).
4. Another place we can just waltz through is the cafeteria! Just walk on back and get some ice, schmooze with the lunch ladies and leave with no consequence. I don't know about you, but if I thought the office ladies were scary, they were rainbows and lollipops compared to the lunch lady stare. AND we're allowed to the front of every line. Always. It's great. (Granted you generally try to avoid hordes of hungry preteens, but when the situation presents intself, navigation becomes much easier).
This transition between student to teacher is fascinating. These things that when said seem so trivial are so mind blowing to me. Maybe it's because middle school was only about 5 years ago and I still feel like I should be in public school... but now I'm allowed to call you by your first name? Even expected to? And I can have the free popcorn in the teachers lounge? And I am allowed in any part of the school at any time of the day? The library has secret rooms behind the counter that I am also always allowed in? Man. Talk about the life. Maybe that is one reason I wanted to be a teacher...still the life of a student but with way more freedom and power (I use for lack of a better word). Regardless, no matter how weird it seemed at first, I can definitely get used to this.
