It is hard to believe that our year together is actually over. Each and every student made so much progress and I am proud of their work.
I try to not to make these posts about me, but many of you have heard I am leaving the classroom next year to take a new position with the district as a Curriculum Specialist. So allow me to reflect. I have had many, many mixed emotions as I pack up my classroom. One thing I can say with all confidence is that I am grateful for this year with your children. Teaching is not easy. It is physically exhausting being with 5 and 6 year olds all day. It is mentally exhausting trying to figure out the best way to teach a concept or a skill to 20 different personalities. And it is emotionally exhausting because you LOVE the students and that seeps into every decision you make. Your children exhausted me like no other class- but only because I have such love for them and that is an overwhelming sense responsibility to get things right. I know I've made mistakes, but please know that each decision I made this year was made with love for your wonderful, silly, sweet, feisty, strong, smart children. Thanks for giving me a great year by sharing them so generously.
This class was amazing in so many ways. Every year after the first day of school I name the email group for communication with the parents. After a few hours I can usually sense the personality of the class. One years it was "funny group" one year (before I had this group) I labeled it "best group" and one year, I admittedly just called the group "class" when I just was not feeling a strong connection. This year I named the group Zen.
Zen is frequently associated with calm. There were moments of calm, but in order to achieve Zen you have to work at it. I could tell these students were lifelong learners. These students were striving for balance but most importantly they were hard workers. They worked at reading and writing and math, to be sure. They also worked on friendships. This is something you cannot teach. You can nurture it, which I hope I did. But these kids will be fine with any teacher, any class, because they are always striving to be better students and friends.
Have an amazing summer. Keep in touch. And I hope in the midst of it all you find a moment of Zen.
I try to not to make these posts about me, but many of you have heard I am leaving the classroom next year to take a new position with the district as a Curriculum Specialist. So allow me to reflect. I have had many, many mixed emotions as I pack up my classroom. One thing I can say with all confidence is that I am grateful for this year with your children. Teaching is not easy. It is physically exhausting being with 5 and 6 year olds all day. It is mentally exhausting trying to figure out the best way to teach a concept or a skill to 20 different personalities. And it is emotionally exhausting because you LOVE the students and that seeps into every decision you make. Your children exhausted me like no other class- but only because I have such love for them and that is an overwhelming sense responsibility to get things right. I know I've made mistakes, but please know that each decision I made this year was made with love for your wonderful, silly, sweet, feisty, strong, smart children. Thanks for giving me a great year by sharing them so generously.
This class was amazing in so many ways. Every year after the first day of school I name the email group for communication with the parents. After a few hours I can usually sense the personality of the class. One years it was "funny group" one year (before I had this group) I labeled it "best group" and one year, I admittedly just called the group "class" when I just was not feeling a strong connection. This year I named the group Zen.
Zen is frequently associated with calm. There were moments of calm, but in order to achieve Zen you have to work at it. I could tell these students were lifelong learners. These students were striving for balance but most importantly they were hard workers. They worked at reading and writing and math, to be sure. They also worked on friendships. This is something you cannot teach. You can nurture it, which I hope I did. But these kids will be fine with any teacher, any class, because they are always striving to be better students and friends.
Have an amazing summer. Keep in touch. And I hope in the midst of it all you find a moment of Zen.
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