Wrapping Up

My, my, my,...time certainly DOES fly! I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged, but life has been playing on high-speed lately. I have been keeping up my reading, though, making sure I fit it in either early in the morning or late at night. If there were only more hours in a day, I might be able to get more done! I promise to give reviews on some of the great books I've read lately, but not yet. I need another week to wrap some things up.

This week is the last week of school. Every year, it is the same for me. I truly enjoy my summer break, but...I know I will miss my students. I've become a little more sentimental in the past couple of weeks. I worry there is something I've forgotten to tell them or teach them. I find myself writing little notes in my phone or on a pad, "Be sure to tell David that I have really enjoyed reading his writings this year," or "Tell Shelby she's smart and can accomplish anything." Have I told them these things already? Yes. But they need to hear it again, just one more time (or three) before we say goodbye.

So, please forgive me for ignoring my blog for awhile. At this time of year, any extra attention I have is showered on my students. Even my husband takes a backseat and, God bless him, he never complains. He knows my heart and knows it's very important to me to send my 72 children out into the world with my love wrapped around them for safe keeping.

And, at the end of a school year, that's the most important wrap up of them all.

 

The Absolute Truth

I've been following this teacher's journey, via her blog and her Facebook, for some time now. I was surprised to find that The Washington Post had picked up one of her latest blogs where she tells the truth about how it is to be a teacher - the struggles and the rewards.

Sadly, "Love, Teach" is leaving her job at the end of this year. Because of that, I suppose, she's decided to be completely up front and honest about what is wrong with public education. And every word she writes is the absolute truth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/04/25/teacher-what-i-wish-everyone-knew-about-working-in-a-high-needs-school/

Better

I love what I do. Have I mentioned that lately? I absolutely love being a teacher, and I love my students. Every day is different, every child is different, and to watch them learn and grow as human beings amazes me. My students make me a better person and remind me of what is really important in this world.

Because I love my students and the work that I do, I don't like to be absent from my classroom. Unfortunately, I've been ill the past couple of months and had days that were really a struggle to get through. I did have to miss some work, but tried not to miss too much if I could help it. I was honest with my students on rough days. I told them that in spirit I was completely fine, but that I tired quickly and needed to sit more than usual in class. Normally, I'm a very active teacher and seldom sit down. My students were quite wonderful and adapted to their teacher's limited movements. The kindness and consideration my students had for me helped to make me better on difficult days.

Now, I am happy to say, I am well! What was wrong with me is better and improving every day. I feel like myself again for the first time in quite awhile. It's like a natural high to be able to move and breathe and live without the limitations that burdened me. While I have always had an appreciation for life, that appreciation has certainly been renewed!
 
I was reminded just how far I've come when I did a little storytelling yesterday. We've been studying different types of myths, and I had some students ask me if I'd read "The Chenoo" myth out loud for them. The students had read the story previously in class and answered questions about it. They just wanted to hear me read aloud with expression. Storytelling. It was only a few students, so I told them to come in before school started the next day, and I would read it. You can imagine my surprise when my classroom was full of students waiting to hear the tale the next morning.

As I read the story and bellowed out the voice of the Chenoo (stomping around for effect, of course...), I felt energized from head to toe. I had so much fun watching my students enjoy the story, and we all laughed together at the end when I tried to get some of my students to bellow with me. When the bell rang to go to first period, and we had to leave the classroom, one of my students said, "I dare you to go out in the hallway and do that in front of everyone!" I laughed and winked and said, "No problem!" as I took my performance piece out into the busy hallway.
 
Later that day, one of my students said, "When I saw you in the hallway this morning stomping around and being silly, I knew you were really, finally better!" I'm sure I had the biggest, goofiest grin on my face because I realized just how much better I really felt, too. 

And, trust me, feeling better is the absolute best! :)