Dorothy Mackey

Here We Come Ready or Not Dorothy Mackey

Purpose in writing this book came with the idea that many parents may not have a real understanding of what goes on in a first grade classroom. It is very easy to place blame on the school personnel without considering the whole situation. There is a lot of difference when dealing with one child at home or a whole classroom of thirty or more young children. All names used are fictitious -- even purposely trying to not use a first or last name of any child ever taught in my classroom. THE SITUATIONS ARE REAL The idea for the book came from one of the most difficult years of my teaching career when there were more than the usual number of problems in the classroom -- such as lying, fussing, broken homes, and insecurity among the classmates. Adjustment from a very adequate classroom with twenty-three children for half a day in double sessions, then moving to a portable room and adding seven children in one day and also going a full day without water or rest rooms in the portable room. All needs of that nature had to be in the main school rooms. Much more was accomplished in the half day with twenty-three students than with thirty students going the full day. In the half day, there was no time taken out for Physical Education or lunchroom, and more time could be given for individual attention to each child. Coming to school at noon, the children were more rested, and an unheard of PERFECT ATTENDANCE for one month with no absences or tardiness. However, the only good thing I could say about the portable room was that there was no intercom to interrupt during lesson time, but getting seven new students in one day with other conditions in the portable was a very trying, challenging situation. Needless to say, the class got along very well without the intercom interruptions. If there was an emergency need, the office would send a child with a note to the room, which was a very rare occurrence.