As this school year is starting to come to an end, I'm feeling a lot of emotions. I'm so thankful that we've made it to the end this year. I am thankful that each day I have been able to walk into my classroom. I am thankful for the 15 sets of smiling eyes that greet me each morning. This year I will say goodbye to my tiny best friends on May 27th, coincidently it's also my Birthday.
Nine months ago I received a list with 15 names on it. I knew very little about each child. As soon as I received my class list I began to pray over each child. Knowing that as they grew (and I grew with them) we would have great days and days we needed to work a little harder. In my heart I grew a love for each child. I look forward to seeing them each day and hearing what they have to share with me. I know many of their likes and dislikes, I know just how to create an activity to engage them all similarly but differently. No two students have the same needs and I am really good at reading those needs and meeting them just where they are. I know how to "push" each child lovingly outside of their comfort zone to grow just a little. It might just be a kind word, or a look on my face.... because just like I know them so well, they know me VERY well too.
Recently a mom told me that she has seen her son grow so much over the past year, she expressed her gratitude to me. But, in reality her son has also changed me. She said he brings so much of what he sees in the classroom from me back home with him. The fact that these parents trust me each day with their children is so rewarding. They trust me to love and educate their children during such a tender time. I truly believe what we do during the early years sets a foundation for a love of learning.
This year I have especially created a love in my students for all things SCIENCE, MATH, Building and decoding words. They have actually challenged me this year to expand my lessons to meet their thirst for learning. Nothing compares to the wonder I see in their little eyes. (They truly thing I am AMAZING, and I'll take it)
The other day I was asked what is it exactly that I do for a "job". Well teacher comes with a lot of different hats. But usually the first thing I say is I create wonder and a thirst to seek more. I am a nurse when they are hurt, I am hug when they are sad, I am a remodel of respect, I am a fixer of all problems, I help them see things from someone else perspective, I can make all learning fun, I spend hours writing lessons and coming up with plans, I can make just about anything into a song but not always in tune. Oh and I can move to the shuffle like no other. There is so much more to teaching then getting up in front of a group kids and telling them what they need to know.
This year will be bittersweet, I'm thankful that we've made it to the end but I'm sad that it's ending. I know next year I will receive a new list and I'll fall in love with each of them and learn their likes and dislikes. I'm just hopeful I'll stay in their hearts just the way they'll forever stay in mine. I've actually stayed in touch with a few of my original students (pre babies) and those relationships I'm so thankful for.
