Maria Rapanaro
M. Rapanaro - Returning to class in September: an unforgettable feeling
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Maria Rapanaro is a professor of Education Sciences at the
Department of Education and Learning / University of Teacher Education (DFA/ASP), where she teaches students enrolled in the Bachelor's program in Elementary School Teaching. After several years of experience as an elementary school teacher, she now focuses on professional development and training for teachers in professional practice.
September: a month of new beginnings, new projects, and new adventures. What does the start of the school year mean to you?
fter the summer break, I return with renewed energy and motivation to resume my daily routine of meetings, lessons, and collaborations. It is an opportunity to focus on goals and improve my work, but above all, it is a time to get to know the students and plan new paths that will allow us to grow together during the year.
What emotions and feelings are you experiencing as you return to the classroom?
A mixture of emotions! I am happy to see my colleagues again, curious to get to know the class groups, and excited to start new educational adventures. However, there are also moments of concern related to time management and balancing work with family life. At first, it is not easy to get back into the rhythm, but enthusiasm prevails, and meeting the students immediately reminds me why I love this job.
Starting over often means facing new challenges. What are the challenges you face in your profession today?
The main challenge for me is to support people who are training in an increasingly complex context, helping them to develop skills and awareness of their role through constant reflective practice. I try to create spaces for authentic engagement, based on the integration of theory and practice, so that they can recognize the meaning of what they are learning.
What skills do you think are important to activate as a teacher at this time of transition from the summer break to the resumption of school activities?
At this time of year, I believe that organization and listening are particularly important. September brings with it an intense workload, so it is necessary to organize carefully in order to distribute energy and find a sustainable balance. At the same time, it is essential to refine your observation and listening skills in order to welcome different emotions and stimuli and identify expectations and training needs. This allows you to adjust courses and strategies so that training becomes an opportunity for shared growth.
You were an elementary school teacher for several years. What do you remember about the start of the school year with your students?
The first days of school were always a whirlwind of emotions. I remember my students being excited to see each other again and eager to discover what was new for the year. I particularly remember the beginning of first grade, when tiredness set in during the afternoon. Many asked me if they could take a ‘nap’, so we would take a moment, lying together on the carpet, to listen to a piece of music with our eyes closed.
What do you remember about when you were a student? How did you feel about this time of year?
I always experienced September with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I felt nostalgia for the slow pace of summer, and on the other, I felt joy at seeing my friends again and some apprehension about the challenges that awaited me. The excitement of the first day of school has never left me, and I still consider it one of the most beautiful and meaningful experiences. Now that I am a mother, I relive it through my children's emotions. In their eyes, I recognize the same anticipation, the sadness at the end of summer and shared moments, but also a great desire to see their classmates again and discover what the new school year will bring.
What are your wishes for your students for this new school year?
I wish them to face the journey with confidence in themselves and in others. I would like them not to be afraid of making mistakes, but to see difficulties as opportunities for growth. I hope that this school will be an open and welcoming space for them, where they feel understood and at the same time stimulated to get involved.