Well, finally, the anticipation is over. The first day of school has come and gone.
We had a wonderful first day. It was great to see everyone again, all in one place.
Though I had seen all of my students at one time or another over the summer, I did wonder if seeing them all together in the classroom would make me realize how much bigger they’ve gotten or how much more mature they’ve become.
For the most part I was not struck with any sudden revelations.
But there was one moment.
As the students arrived in the morning, before the bell rang, they were just milling about in the classroom. They each said hello to me, but their interest turned almost immediately to each other. After a few minutes I realized that they were all there happily chatting away with each other while I stood — all alone — at my desk gathering my thoughts for the day.
The “invisible adult” phenomenon was an aspect of adolescence that I had forgotten about. And though I do love it when they come around my desk and ask questions and chat with me, noticing this new development of theirs made me smile.
They’re still my sweet class. They’re still happy and enthusiastic about learning. They’re still respectful and polite in their interactions with me.
They just don’t notice me quite as much.
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