Wow. Just WOW!!!
With only days until I meet my littles, I’m in a really good place. This new endeavor has taken total focus and determination. With hours and and hours left of things that must be done before Tuesday night’s Back to School function, every NEXT thing gives me more energy.
I took a selfie two days ago and the image said it all. It’s the first picture in a very long time that shows a smile radiating from my heart. I seem to glow in the picture. I was the only person in the room. I took it on my first paid day. The picture says everything. I made a good decision to return to the work I so dearly love.
To add to the wonder of the moment, I’ve now seen pictures of my class. Tiny little thumbnails taken one year ago, these students are the readers and writers I’ve been waiting to meet. With adorable names that I can’t share with you, these children are going to teach me more life lessons than I can count. They are going to make me laugh more deeply than anyone on the planet, and they are going to cause me to cry in my pillow. That’s a given. Another given? They are all brand new writers, even at 6 years old. Who knows, I may meet the next Jan Karon who will enchant readers for generations to come.
I started preparing my lesson plans for reading, writing, and phonics last night. Teaching in 10 minute blocks, the kids don’t know it, but they are going to be the exhausted ones at the end of the day. These kiddos are so lucky to be taught by a real writer knows what works and what doesn’t. I turn writing into one of the best things in life, because, as I was told by a 5th grader, “Writing IS life”. You’ll be happy to know I’ve personally handled every book from which my littles will learn to read. I’ve found no hidden agendas anywhere. I did find many adorable books that made me giggle and laugh. All the more fun to teach from books like these. There are many titles I remember from reading with my own little boys.
The kids are going to write their first three page book on the first day of school. I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Now, they are not illustrators. That’s a different skill. We’ll focus on the words, ideas, and messages. My illustrators will need to wait just a little while to practice their skills. Kids always have a lot to say and I can’t wait to listen.
Last week, I ordered another “Raffi” cd. In case you don’t know, he is quite the children’s artist, singing “Baby Beluga” and “Down by the Bay”. Singing with Raffi yesterday took me back to 1996 and my first classroom. Yes. Returning to work is a very, very happy thing.
As promised, I am here to tell you I earned 100% on my 30 page culminating project. 350/350. If my instructor is reading, thank you so much!! I hope it’s the last college course ever required of me. I’m at the top of my pay scale in both years of teaching and college units. Nothing more will increase my pay other than time and in that commodity, I am limited.
This summer has been one for the books. Thinking back to June when I was fretting about renewing my driver’s license, so many miracles have taken place. The stars aligned to carry to me to this, the last Sunday of my summer. I’ll need to wait until June 3, 2023 when the summer will be, again, full of possibilities. Until then, it’s pedal to the metal. Mrs. Hurt is back.
Our staff is having a potluck lunch tomorrow. That should be a fun time in which to get to know more people. There is another widow on our staff that lost her husband in 2019. I need to speak with her. Her son is our computer tech. At least she isn’t physically alone.
My grade level gal pals continue to give me strength through scaffolding, strength, and love. We’ve all been working massive amounts of unpaid overtime to be ready for the first day. Today, I need to create a 3-D bee-hive, as my beautiful bulletin board never arrived. Thank goodness the bees arrived. Everything will be picture perfect on Tuesday at 4:30 when it will be showtime. Twenty phone call invitations will go out tomorrow.
Whatever you do today, spend time with a child, if any are around. Talk to them about how important it is to act respectfully at school. Tell them their teachers are just as nervous and excited as they are. For goodness sakes, I have my new Barbie lunchbox AND school backpack ready to go.
More tomorrow.