The beginning of this week did not yield too many
memorable, celebratory moments.
For the first time in the 23 years of my teaching life, I felt anxiety and trepidation on the first day of school.
I cried through the car ride there.
I felt overloaded by new curricular materials and state teacher evaluation requirements, and I did not feel rested or ready to return even after nine weeks of summer break.
I felt like I still had so much more organizing and preparing to do, even after endless hours of setting up my classroom.
I felt like I still had so much more organizing and preparing to do, even after endless hours of setting up my classroom.
And then..... the morning bell rang.
A flood of young children poured through the front doors, down the primary hallway, and I heard these words.....
"MRS. R. SUPERSTAR! OH HOW I'VE MISSED YOU!"
They came gushing out of a little girl who had made coming to school last year an absolute joy for me.
She gave me a ferocious hug and a letter she'd written with her
picture glued in the corner.
She then proceeded to walk into my classroom and head directly to this space that was her favorite, as well as mine.
STORY CORNER
She greeted our stuffed book buddies like old friends and perused the
"teacher favorites" bookshelf to see what was new to my collection.
She noticed that my guitar was in a different case and needed to know why.
She then twirled around, and in her best "teacher assistant voice" said,
"Boys and girls, I was in this class last year and
you are SO lucky to be in Room #2 now!"
Her gleeful testimonial brought a smile to my face and jump-started my heart.
It revived me.
It reminded me that all of the "hard stuff" I had been worrying about needed to be pushed back,
and that celebrating the magic I am blessed
to create with children I care about
should always be my priority.
In the days ahead, I will seek this child out when I am struggling or slogging through paperwork.
I will stop at her lunch table for a chat about what she is reading, or what new story she is writing.
I will stop at her lunch table for a chat about what she is reading, or what new story she is writing.
I will visit with her in the bus line at dismissal time.
I will let her energy and enthusiasm for learning
I will let her energy and enthusiasm for learning
recharge my "teacher battery" and keep me going.
I will let her light shine, and remind me of how much I loved school at her age, as well as the teachers that instilled that feeling in me.
I will celebrate the privilege of
being her past teacher and present mentor.
As always, thanks for stopping in to share my story. May you continue to share yours, hold a song in your heart, share a smile, wish upon a star, teach your children well, and find shining moments to celebrate....
