My first year was really rough. First, I got off to a bad start by being hired two weeks after school started. My class was pretty out of control by then and it was all I could do to stay a day or even an hour or two ahead of them by following the book. I finally took an entire weekend---from Friday at 3 o'clock until Monday morning at 6 a.m.---to figure out what I was trying to accomplish with my students in American History. And it didn't stop there. Once I knew what I was supposed to be doing for the year and what my students were supposed to be learning, I felt as if a huge weight was off my shoulders. It felt so good that I started planning to plan. By that I mean that I looked at my calendar every month and blocked out some quiet time to spend just on laying out my lesson plans and writing them down. That time spent planning meant I spent less time trying to come up with activities and grading assignments that could be evaluated other ways and more time thinking about what was going on with my students and how I could provide a quality experience for them. Even after 9 years teaching the same subject, I still enjoy modifying my lesson plans and creating new ones that are meaningful for the students I have today. I can see a big improvement from those first terrible weeks during my first year.                              Roger, veteran middle school teacher I was one of those college students who spent hours creating beautiful displays and posters to demonstrate my dedication to teaching. I couldn't wait to get my first real classroom to decorate and my first students to get to know. In retrospect, I wish I had spent more time before the year started making lesson plans rather than meticulously decorating bulletin boards and painting individual boxes for the students to store their gear. Fortunately we learned together. I learned the value of a dynamite lesson plan and my students learned to be patient with me while I learned that. I still love to use my artistic interests in my classroom, but I have also learned the art of creating good lesson plans. My classroom looks beautiful, but only because it's obvious that my students are engaged, curious and active learners.                              Anne, 18 years and still teaching                             second grade