A New Year

As I prepare for another year teaching; wiping down bookshelves, going through file cabinets, trying to get the ‘just right’ room arrangement with the furniture provided…  I cannot help but reflect. I think about my first year in Richmond and the deep desire to make a difference in young children’s lives and their families and make sure that remains true; check. Am I ready to be the student as well as the teacher; check. Am I happy being a teacher; check. I remember once at PGES we had this ‘spotlight’ on a teacher every week and had to complete a form. It asked ‘What would you be if you weren’t a teacher?” I remember my response: incomplete.

I have had the privilege of teaching and learning from so many sweet, bright and beautiful children and families. I know teaching is more than the content. I believe it is actually about the child, regardless of age or ability; it is always about each child. I think of those children as I wipe down desks and tables and remember them chewing on pencils, working so hard on tests, and my favorite memory is when we all put our feet up on the desks to read. When I move furniture around I think of times when we played games at centers and will my room welcome laughter? Will those sweet smiles come from my shy students as well as the loud roars of laughter from the more gregarious students? As I throw away old activities I think of the students who used them and wonder where they are now, what do they look like, what are they doing?

I inevitably come back to my last class of students; those I had all day long, everyday and even had for two years for a K-1 loop. That special group that inspired me to go further and do more… they are sopomores this year. I cannot believe all that time has gone by since that class!  I am so grateful to those children and families. They were my strength and hope on a deep level as I had personal struggles; they loved me and supported me and always knew I was a mom first. In that way they allowed me that special feeling of having 21 children, Bella and later Gideon included! I so love each of those children and continue to be so very proud of them as they grow, mature and excel.

This year there is another group that I am thinking about as I am going through all my math material; the group that enters middle school this year. I taught most them in some fashion since kindergarten and know them on many different levels; teacher, coach and even mother. I have seen them grow from little 5 year olds into young adults, watched them build friendships I hope will last a lifetime, and hope that I will keep in touch with them as well as they continue to grow and do remarkable feats. What a group of amazing children!

I know how fortunate I am with every wipe of the dust from those bookshelves, every bulletin board, and with every table I move and then move again, looking for that just right placement. I am so looking forward to this year and yes, another group of kids I will bid farewell to in the spring but until then…. I am ready to make a difference, teach and learn and most importantly, happily love each child!

Man in the Arena

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858 - 1919), "Man in the Arena" Speech given April 23, 1910

My son's baseball coach shared this with me during his summer all-stars and I found it to be apropos for beginning a blog as the school year begins. As a teacher, student, parent, etc. basically a human being, how we begin everyday makes a difference. I strive to remember to be present and engaged and step into that 'arena', not walk out when times are difficult but stay in there and learn my lessons; as difficult as some might be. We are role models for our children, students, and even other adults; sometimes unwillingly but if we stop and think about it...what a special gift we have be given. The ups and downs, peaks and valleys, sorrows and joys; all opportunities to share how to live. We all make mistakes and we all have victories; each worthy of sharing with others as each helps form who we are and who we are constantly evolving into. Life is a journey and one I am grateful for everyday.