Chaos. Not Chay-ose.

When I was younger, I loved playing "Pacman World 2" on my PlayStation 2. There was a level entitled "Canyon Chaos", but for many, many months I pronounced it "chay-ose" - until one day, when I pronounced it like that in front of my mom, and she corrected me.
I've been thinking about that a lot since being placed as a "block student" (think student teacher, sort of) in the first grade at a local elementary school.
It. Is. Chaos.
Now, I've worked in first grade before. But that classroom had desks, no toys, all structured and quiet.
This classroom is a little (read: a LOT!) different. This classroom has toys galore, different types of tables, no assigned seats, and free play every morning. Both classrooms are totally normal, acceptable ways of teaching, but one is definitely more my style (can you guess which one?)
Part of the chaos is that my dear cooperating teacher (the real teacher) has just returned from maternity leave and is slowly but surely laying down the law with her classroom expectations. Things are definitely getting better, but even she is considering switching to assigned seats if these kids can't learn to handle their freedom.
It seems like a pattern with cooperating teachers. When I was in second grade last fall, the teacher said she'd never had kids that talkative. In fourth grade last semester, the teacher said she'd never had kids that behind. Now, my first grade teacher says she's never had kids this wild.
As expected, these kids are already super attached to me - a handful of them in particular. Such is the way of first graders, I suppose. Just the other day I was asked to watch another first grade class during the last fifteen minutes before recess so their teacher could make a doctor's appointment. They watched a movie; I never even so much as introduced myself, but got hugs from five of them on their way to recess.
So, wish me luck as I begin to teach the first of my six required lessons.
Here's hoping my heart will be fuller than my hands!