Preparing For the Start of Preschool

Over the last few weeks, I've been busy preparing for preschool to start. Back on Saturday, August 4, the whole staff participated in a conference for church-based preschool teachers. Thankfully, it was held at a church here in town, so didn't require traveling anywhere.

However, that just happened to be the day that Shad decided to go camping with the guys, so I asked my mom to come stay Friday night and babysit Christopher on Saturday for me. Christopher did great and they ended up having a really good time together.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually enjoyed the conference and wasn't totally bored out of my mind! We all started off in a class with other teachers of the age-group we'll be teaching. I'm going to be working with 2-year olds, so was with my co-worker, Teresa, in the 2-year old teacher's class. In the afternoon, we split up into the elective classes. I chose to take one about biting and another about art.

We then had a break until this week when we decorated our classrooms. Teresa and I met on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 8:30-1:00. I brought Christopher along, but found that it was quite difficult when there weren't other kids around for him to play with! I got a few things accomplished, but Christopher kept demanding my attention (getting hurt, wanting me to play with him, etc.), so Teresa ended up doing a lot of the work. Next time I have to do something like that, I'm going to find someone to watch Christopher for me. Thankfully, we finished everything on Wednesday, so don't have to go back until tonight.

We have Open House tonight and tomorrow night from 6:30-8:00. I'll get to meet all the parents (and hopefully kids) and they'll get to pick up information from us.

I already know Christopher's teacher, Mrs. Brenda, since we go to church with her and she's watched Christopher before. Since I'll be busy in the 2-year old class during Open House, I went ahead and picked up my folder of information yesterday. I've found that there are a few more things I need, so will have to get those tonight afterall. One thing I'll have to do before we start on September 4 is to pick up a copy of Christopher's shot record. I wish that I'd known that earlier since we were just there on Monday. They can probably mail it to me, though.

After we're finished with Open House, I think we're done until school starts on Tuesday, September 4. I just realized yesterday that it's less than 2 weeks away! I'm excited and am looking forward to starting. It'll be sort of a new experience for me, so I'll have a lot to learn. Christopher will have a rough first few weeks during naptime since he's not used to sleeping on a mat, but in a crib instead. Plus, he's also not used to sleeping in a room with other people, so that'll probably be hard for him. I just hope that I won't be able to hear him while I'm in my classroom! I've got a feeling that he may have to come home and finish his nap for the first few times. We'll just play it by ear, though.