Hello from Springfield

Hello to all ---
I have a feeling I'm a bit of a latecomer to this blog, so I am going to introduce myself. My name is Johanna Greenough, and I was in the Education in the Cities course last year at Smith. I went through the MEd program there last year, and was very interested in teaching in an urban area, so I begged to be let into the class. I have to say that I'm so glad I was. I am now teaching at the Gerena Elementary School (K-5) in Springfield. I was part of the tutoring program there last fall as part of the course as well.
I am teaching first grade there, in a classroom which will eventually include children ages 6-9. As you may or may not know, Gerena is transitioning to a Montessori school, so I'm also enrolled in a second master's program (don't ask -- it was never in the plans) that will give me Montessori certification. The only grades that are actually implementing Montessori this year are PreK-K (called Children's House in a Montessori setting), and 1st grade. That means me. Gerena is also committed to using Responsive Classroom this year, as well as finding ways to meet all of the state and district frameworks. Marrying all of those things is a bit difficult, particularly as a first-year teacher in a community of children who often don't have their basic needs met.
I will certainly go into more detail about my class and the experience I am having as this blog continues. But for now, since time is of the essence and my own children are almost ready for some bedtime routines, let me just say: this is the hardest job I have ever had. It takes up all of my time, it is often frustrating, and I often feel ineffectual. It is also the best job I've ever had. I am doing what I love the most in a community that needs people like me. I am at the beginning of a ground-up, very difficult transition for these children, their parents, and the entire school -- staff and administration included. And so, when I sit in a circle of first graders and remind children over and over again that no, you should not be pulling up staples from the rug and putting them in your mouth, I try to remind myself that this is what those children need from me. And when I am consoling a child grieving for his sibling who drowned recently, I remember that this, too, is what those children need from me.
While I try to acclimate myself to my many roles as teacher in the classroom, I wonder: how many of you have something very valuable to offer classrooms at Gerena. I know that some students from my class last year volunteered their time at Gerena. If that's something you can fit into a schedule which I know (from experience) often looks completely booked, then I would welcome you. You can't imagine the immense difference a set of hands makes in a classroom. I often struggle for that additional set of hands. I have a paraprofessional in and out of the room, but even two teachers is often not enough for these children. If anyone is interested in volunteering in my room, I'd love that. There are other Smithies here, too -- Lindsey Fernald, in second grade; Emily Breines, in third, and Anne Naughton, in fourth. They are all struggling to do the best they can. They are all overwhelmed from time to time and would welcome you, I'm sure.
I myself am so glad to be on this blog and to get some fresh views and ideas on things.