It’s all come back so easy. Every mentor teacher I’ve ever known whispers to me throughout the day, reminding me of helpful little tips to make the day go smoother. My kiddos are coming right along, learning that our minutes are valuable. High expectations produce wonderful results and I’m amazed at how fast the littles I started the year with are growing into real students.
At this point, we are a classroom family. Yesterday, the sweetest thing happened. It has every year I’ve taught.
A very active little boy was having a hard day. An impulsive 6 year old, he’s one of my youngers. For the first three weeks of school, his name is one blasted through the room.
“Davey.”
“No, Davey.”
“Please sit down, Davey.”
“Davey, we’re waiting.”
DAVEYYYYYYY.”
His mom contacts me every evening to check on his behavior for the day. A teacher needs to be gentle when talking with parents. My expectations are extremely high, as I mentioned. These littles are going above and beyond as they follow my lead. They are kind and funny. I’m expecting them to turn into scholars (which, by the way, they will by the end of the school year).
Good Lemonade has a little lemon for flavor and a lot of sugar for sweetness. I think of that ratio when making a call to parents. Sandwiched thoughts come out in a certain order. Good traits. The problem. Suggestions for a better day. A final compliment. The conversations usually go well.
I always reassure parents that their child is a unique creation. A wonderful work of art. Face it. They all are. Every single one of them. If a teacher doesn’t believe that in her soul, she shouldn’t be teaching. My conversations with Davey’s mom are that way too. Davey is one of my kids, now and forever more.
Yesterday, I was helping my class with their laptops. Consider that picture. 20 littles each with a laptop, working on programs leveled to their ability. Silence. Focus. Learning. Davey needed something but I was helping another child with a problem.
With a little tug on my sleeve, I heard, “Mom……….I mean Mrs. Hurt.”
There it was. Just once more in my life, I was waiting for the sweetest of little slips. Yes. We are a family. Our relationships are intense and critical. Smiling, I turned to help Davey for another time. He is growing into a responsible and respectful Eagle even if his daily Mom reports have a little more lemon than sugar on some nights.
Teaching is full of surprises. Just when I had our day planned so carefully, a wrench was thrown into the works. One of my teaching partners called in sick. There were no substitutes to be found. Yesterday, I had four guests and a ghost (absent student). Five names added to my roster. Five more children added to my class at a critical time for behavior. My students are just getting to know what I expect. Distractions are not helpful.
My room yesterday was the hottest it’s been. Hot air was adding to the sweltering temperature. Not much better than a classroom in India. At least those classrooms have windows that open.
With an afternoon of frazzling complications, recess outside on the gravel playground was a welcome relief. The kids were running off their own frustrations while catching up with the latest news from their friends. All of a sudden, my gal pal teacher friend came quickly, telling me to go look in my room.
There, on my desk, sat the most exquisite bouquet of delicate flowers imaginable. Star Gazer Lilies. White roses. Babies Breath. A work of art. In this sweltering, messy little classroom sat something from the outside world. Delicate, fragile, and right from the florist.
I won’t share the words on the card. Just know, it’s something I will keep forever, the message now etched in my heart.
The rest of the day, I got plenty of questions about my flowers.
Was it my birthday?
No.
Anniversary?
Uh, think again on that one.
Late Labor Day?
Early Columbus Day?????
Younger women would never consider the possibility that a old veteran teacher with her hair in a bun just might have an admirer. My mentor teachers stood open-mouthed and in awe as I left for the day tightly clutching my vase of flowers. The heat in the room was too much for them. They needed to come home to the cool oasis of Winterpast.
Hopefully today will be a better day. With a few more hours of testing, my littles will learn more today. It’s kindness day, so I’ll be wearing my jeans and kindness t-shirt. The one that says, “Kindness is my super power.” I need to make sure my shirt doesn’t lie. It’s all about patience, love, respect, and kindness. Being back in the groove is a delightful place to be.
More tomorrow.