Luckily, I decided to keep my current classroom décor/theme for this school year...again. Which, really, I don't have a "theme." It's just...colors. Bright colors. With lights. And polka dots. And fabric. My poor ADHD kids.
I am really looking forward to a new year. A new group of students. New curriculum. A new classroom set up. New co-workers. I am loving it! Tomorrow I meet my students-which typically ends up in a whirlwind of mess of papers, tons of questions, lots of smiling and sore feet. But, it's that jumpstart. I am excited to see old students and families. Which by the way, my first class will be freshman in high school. It completely blows my mind. I was hanging old class pictures by my door the other day, and I cannot believe how young they were! And how fresh faced and young I looked! Six years of teaching can age a person. I can't imagine what I am going to look like in 20 more years. Hello water, sunshine, and lots of protein!
With each school year, I set new goals for myself. Personal goals and professional goals. Last year was a rough start because I was going through a lot in my personal life. I had to really learn how to balance out emotions. So at that point, it was just survival for the first few months. This year though I have nothing weighing be back or holding me down. I can really throw myself into my work, kids, and preparation. I sometimes complain about busting my tail, pulling 10 hour days at school, and then the load I have to bring home. But, the satisfaction and joy that comes from it--the success--knowing that I gave it every bit of ounce of energy, tried my best, refused to settle and refused to let my students settle and pushed my whole class to the max--the results are always worth it. Most of the time I walk out of my classroom, wanting to fist pump or just let loose. Then, of course, there are those times where I walk out with my tail between my legs, feeling defeated and just crawl into a hot bath and come up with a whole new game plan. A true teacher doesn't get defeated. He or she doesn't give up. They accept it as a challenge, tackle it, and keep right on pressing through the chaos. I am so flippin pumped! And you know me--I love a good challenge.
So with that in mind, please remember all teachers not just this week, or next week then the students come, but...
Remember them on that rainy day in October when they are stuck having indoor recess for the fourth day in a row.
Remember that teacher that day before Christmas break--knowing he or she is so looking forward to the break but will be secretly missing and worrying about his/her students for the next two weeks.
Remember that teacher on teacher work days. Yes, it's a day off from the classroom chaos but it is typically filled with parent teacher conferences, professional developments and spent just getting the classroom is some sort of order.
Remember that teacher during flu season. At the point, she has probably had to deal with four or five students that have thrown up in the classroom in the middle of a lesson, with addition to catching up absent students on missing assignments. Not to mention, fighting the flu herself and having to stay healthy and of sane mind, convincing herself that she may have a 101.3 fever, she can still teach that lesson on the three types of rocks. At this point, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to send in an extra box of tissue, hand soap, and Clorox wipes.
Remember that teacher when a student is moved unexpectedly due to a bad home life. When he/she has to worry if that student is getting told at night that they are loved, important, and will do great things one day.
Remember that teacher when it's January, and 40 degrees outside but with the wind it feels 32 degrees. She plays chicken with herself or other teachers to see how long they can make it outside, just to let the kids get their energy out. (We usually don't make it past 10 minutes, max.)
Remember that teacher when a student still says, "I don't get it." And knowing she has taught three different ways on how to subtract across zeros with a four digit number, over and over and over. Or, how to explain reading fractions on a number line and why it is such an imperative skill to know (still haven't came up with a decent reason, six years later)! Let's not even get into teaching past, present, and future tense verbs with irregular endings. Need I say more?
Remember that teacher when she finds out that three of her students have lice...for the third time for that school year (been there, done that, and got the flippin' tshirt last year...three times).
Remember that teacher when a student throws a tantrum because him/her did not get their way. When a student throws a punch at another kid. When a student bursts into tears as soon as they walk in the door because they didn't get enough to eat at breakfast or their mom yelled at them as they were getting out of the car. When a parent refuses to accept responsibility and it leaves you wondering who is the parents and who is the child.
Remember that teacher when it's testing time, as he/she crams for the state test all a while pumping the students up, feeding them an extra snack, and praying that everything they have worked toward and done over the year will truly show.
Remember that teacher at the end of the year--as she finishing up permanent records, finalizing grades, cleaning out her room, and pretty much babysitting the last two-three weeks of school. And, as she says goodbye to her little gems, wishing them a great summer--all while knowing she only has two months to refuel and do it all over again.
Teachers. You don't have to be an elementary school classroom teacher. You could teach middle school eighth grade science (God bless you, M.A.). You could be the P.E. teacher that taught the kids how to dribble a basketball ball the proper way. You could be the high school AP teacher that is preparing a classroom full of bratty know it all teenagers for the college world.You could be an administrator that has carried not only faculty and staff through another school year, but successfully protected 800 students in your care. You could be a coach, who has a new team, a new position, whom dreams of leading the team to several championships. You could be that parent--that is reviewing multiplication facts, teaching your child how to convert a decimal to a percentage, doing that SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT two days before it's due (did I just give you nightmares? Sorry).
So, pray for us. Patience. Mercy. Knowledge. Wisdom. Discernment. Safety. Passion. Motivation. Compassion. Discipline. And most of all--love. Because after all, I am just doing what God has called me to do- teach and love. Teach them to love and show them how to love just as Christ as done for us.
"...Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is every useless." 1 Corinthians 15:58
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