The Last Day Blues

Today was supposed to be an easy day - clean out our desks, go to an assembly, play some games, etc.

I forgot about the emotional toll of it all. We spend a lot of time with these kids. We spend a lot of time worrying about them, trying to figure out what will make them tick, and realizing what doesn't work. Then the last day comes, and poof! That is it.

I will miss my class from this year for so many reasons. They were an amazing group. Today they showered me with lavish gifts, hugged me, and ran out the doors for their long awaited summer vacation.

Most surprising of all was one boy in my class. We have butted heads a lot this year. I have nagged him, tried to encourage him, threatened him, and loved him. Today he told me three or four times how he is really going to miss me. Really?! Even after all the hassling?!

I hope his new teachers gets him. I hope he stops procrastinating. I hope he continues loving reading.

Truth is, I am going to miss him too.

All of them.

Would you drink from the spring if you could live forever?

In my Gr. 3 class we have been reading a book called Tuck Everlasting. There is a spring that a familiy has drank from that has caused them to live forever. We talked about whether or not we would drink from the spring. I loved everyone's thoughtful answers!

* I would drink the water because then you would get to learn to do everything.

* I would drink the water because I could give some to my fmaily and we would live forever.

* I would not because people would recognize you and they will ask you questions

* Yes, I would drink the water because I can not be hurt by natural disasters

* I would drink the spring water because I love to live forever!

* Yes, because I don't want to go through the pain of dying

* I wouldn't because I would be lonely and my family would be gone

* I would not because I would never change but I could do everything but if I did I would have nothing to do because it's already done.

* I wouldn't drink it because my family would die and I'd be all alone

* I would drink the water whne I am 33 because I would have kids.

* I would drink the water because I would want to live forever.

* I would not drink the water because I want to die.

* I would not because it is like having to move to a different place every year

* I would not drink the water because then people could find out and the world would get bigger

* I would drink the water because living forever will let you leran how to do anything

* I would drink the water if other people had to.

* I would drink it because I would live forever and never get hurt.

* I would not drink the water because I want to know what heaven looks like

* I would drink the water because I would have forever to do whatever I want.

Good News!!

I can finally blog about this. Today the announcement was made at school: I get to do it all again next year!!! I am so thrilled. I was offered a Gr. 3 position again. I am really excited. I have loved teaching Gr. 3. I'm excited about the grade level team I will be working with. I'm excited to be able to teach something over again and not have to be learning everything as I go. I am excited that I get to keep working with all the great staff there, including our amazing admin. I truly feel blessed to be able to work with everyone there.

Yesterday I was at a Boys and Girls club training night where all the kids that will be working at the Stampede came to get "oriented". I met a parent of one of the kids in my crew. She is a teacher so we had our typical "where do you work, what do you teach" conversation. This woman's response wasn't unusual when I told her where I work. She said, "Oh. That is quite the structured environment." I still haven't learned how to respond to turn those conversations around. Mostly I don't say much. I've thought a lot about it though and think I need to start talking about what an amazing place it is to work when people respond with their generally uninformed and negative comments. If only they knew! Then again....maybe I shouldn't. If all those teachers knew how great it was to work where I do they'd all come knocking...and then where would I be! LOL

All in all: I am just plain excited! I have wondered over the past few days, while mulling over the future, and not being able to talk to anyone about it, why I am so lucky that delving back into the teaching world has gone so smoothly. I don't know. I just know I love it, and I'm so grateful!