Bittersweet

Our last day of kids was June 2nd....as you can see, I am still recovering or I would have posted this much sooner! This was a very different year for me and I have learned more than I thought was possible from 24 - 5th and 6th graders (and one 8th grader)! I will not be returning to my current school for many reasons. I hope to make it back into school for my masters?! I am absolutely positive that I will miss teaching so I am going to hurry back as soon as I can get back.

What I learned this year:

I've learned when I ask, “Would you please pick up the paper or pencil from the floor?” They don’t belong to anyone. (I can guarantee you that it is not mine!)...

I've learned when there is anything hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the hall, students will jump up and try to hit it...

I've learned planning lessons and staying in my classroom until it is dark outside AND coming in on the weekends occurred far too frequently this year...

I've learned that in education, change happen often. New techniques, new ideas, the rewriting of curriculum, new technology and the growing size of classrooms are only a few. Therefore, I have learned to be open-minded...

I’ve learned to manage mountains of paperwork (one word for my friends at DMCS, CUMES)--every school is different and it is a bit ridiculous at times, but we all still do it AND manage to teach kids simultaneously...

I've learned that my job is both satisfying and challenging (emphasis on the challenging)...

I've learned that I am able to draw out the good qualities of my troubled students...

I've learned that elementary school kids are VERY different from my comfort zone of middle school students...

I've learned that I dearly miss and LOVE school sports and the camaraderie it brings to a school and its students...

I've learned that I don’t have much free personal time. Taking a "sick" day is more work than just sucking it up and being there...

I've learned that there are always papers to grade, lessons to plan, parent contacts to make, meetings to attend, emails to answer, and mounds and mounds of paperwork to sort through...don't let it get to you...

I've learned that while I may know about the subject matter, I am continuously learning about how students learn. I did A LOT of learning this year (5th/6th grade--6 new curriculums EACH--makes me tired just typing that)...

I've learned that kind words and looking for the positive in students produces improvement of work and encourages students to do their very best to please me as well as themselves...

I've learned that even though I tell the students, “your grades are your business. If you did your best, that is what matters.” No sooner are those words out of my mouth, than students are whispering and comparing grades (DRIVES ME CRAZY)...

MOST OF ALL, I have learned that educating children is where I belong...

I feel that every moment of educating, and every day as a teacher, I learn more ways to make my classroom a better place for my students. I intentionally seek ways to build a sense of joy into my lessons. You must be flexible. Quality of educating is more important than the number of pages covered in a textbook.

The most important thing that I learned this year is that even when you feel like you can't go any more, there are people who will pick you back up and carry you along your way. I have been blessed, my God have I been blessed this year! I am honored to have worked and stood next to some of the greatest people I have ever met. I cannot explain the connection we all have made this year, it is indescribable. I know that I will be friends with these people for the rest of my life. I am humbled.

This is not everyone....I MUST get a group picture ASAP!!