First Year of Teaching

This first year of teaching was incredibly hard. It was full of so much joy and also so much heartache. There were some of those "golden moments" where I realized that it was all worth it, and then there were the stressful moments in between where I questioned everything I ever believed to be true. I learned to love more fully, forgive more quickly, and listen more compassionately. I learned that sometimes you have to laugh at the stupid things in life because it is just too dang short not to. I learned that sometimes having true control in life is when we have zero control and accept it for what it is. I learned that no matter how much bribery goes down, I cannot make another human being do what I want them to do. I learned that being perfect doesn't mean you are the best and that being the best doesn't mean you are perfect. I learned that not everything gets done and that's okay. I learned that there are people in this world who are better off with me in it.

I never knew that teaching would give me so much. It gave me a reason to wake up each morning and it taught me how to persevere. My students gave me something to laugh about every single day and gave me perspective when things were falling apart.

*Some* Golden Moments

1) When my student from Brazil actually tried to speak English to get his point across and used everything possible to do so.

2) When my students wrote me letters and sang to me in Portuguese for my birthday. 

3) When I asked a student who was having a hard time, he begrudgingly acknowledged I cared for him unconditionally.

4) When the music teacher at my school arranged a beautiful performance for Teacher Appreciation week and my students shared some of the kindest words I have ever been told.

5) When I put a TON of planning into a really fun activity that ACTUALLY WORKED and every one of my students said "Thanks for planning this. It was SO much fun."

6) When I got an apology letter (or two or five) from students that made me remember why I love them

7) When the kid who has struggled all year long got a FOUR (highest score) on his SAGE writing

8) When a kid who had fallen SUPER behind turned to me and said "Thanks for making me do these missing assignments. I now realize why it's important to stay on top of my work."

9) When my students told me their favorite subject was Social Studies (because it's mine, too!)

10) When one of my "cool" students stood up for a classmate at recess without anyone pressuring him to do so and didn't tell me to get praise. He just did it.

11) When I taught my students about 9/11 and it was just about the most humbling experience of my entire life because they got it.

12) When I taught my students about mindfulness and they articulated the experience in such a beautiful way.

13) When one of students worked hard to persevere through academic difficulties.

14) When I surprised my partner teacher for her birthday by singing Happy Birthday in Portuguese

15) Any time my lesson went "better than expected"

16) Any time a parent or student reminded me that I was making a difference

17) When my students told me they would rather have me teach them than have a sub.

18) When I got stuck in a meeting and was late getting to my class after specialties, but every one of my students was in their seat reading a book quietly.

19) When the boys (who put up a big stink at the beginning) started to love my "girlie" read aloud book.

20) Every time one of my students gasped as I read out loud or BEGGED me to keep going so they could find out what happened next.

21) When my students would use a vocabulary word we learned in their daily speech.

22) That moment when I realized I genuinely love every one of my students, and not just because I'm supposed to. 

*Some* Not-So Golden Moments

1) When I came back to school after a sub and found out my kids had been SUPER naughty.

2) When I found out that students had stolen "money" from my class money jar.

3) When my students had a million and one missing assignments (oh wait, all year).

4) Every time I had to remind them to be quiet in the halls

5) When I almost passed out once because periods are the worst I was "sick"

6) When I lost my voice after Clear Creek for what seemed like an eternity (but was only 2 weeks)

7) When I resorted to caffeine to get me through day

8) When my students asked me if I was tired, but really I just hadn't bothered with mascara/ make up

9) Any time I banned anything that just straight-up annoyed me (bottle flipping, "21", dabbing, trifecta spinners, Juan, chesssss, etc.)

10) Whenever I made a student cry (whoops!)