The "magic" is ready!

Well, I conjured up some magic potion for tomorrow and took it to school (I'm always scared that I'll forget it on Monday).  Spent an hour or two setting everything up and entertaining the kids of a colleague who was also there preparing.  I really hope that I can hook the kiddies this year.  Plan on wearing my "witch" outfit.  Long black skirt, black clodhopper granny boots and dark lipstick and heavy eyeliner.  I have almost 200 kids this year, so I'm praying that I can handle them with grace and temperance.  (and if not, maybe a bullwhip!)  I have an activity for each day this week, but they are getting laptops this year and I'm a little worried that I will get in trouble if they aren't working on them.  I'm going to make them hand write their notes because it creates a stronger neural connection when they see, hear and take action, as opposed to having one kid type all the notes and forward them to everyone else, which is what I suspect they will do if allowed to use the computer.  I am looking at some software that I can use to get them using their cell phones, which I think will be fun for them.  Still have to figure out a way to get their laptops involved.  So, tomorrow's the first day of school - officially.  I noticed on our calendar that there are four days this year where the kids get out at 1:30pm.  When someone asked our principal what that was about, he didn't know.  Oh well, I'm thinking they are doing that instead of letting them out of school for inservices, but I don't know who knows for sure why they put that in the calendar. I know it's going to be a rough one because I don't have any planning this year and I have about three classes that are overcrowded.  We lost two science teachers at the end of the year and could only afford to hire one person to replace them, so we are seriously overworked.  But, with this economy, I'm just grateful to be working at something I love to do, so I'll take whatever they give me!  Here's to a great school year!