School is out. It is SUMMER. As I packed up my classroom, I had a lot of time to think and remember. I put away the Center Games of reading sentences, writing notes to each other, etc. and got out letter ID games and puzzles. I organized my files and remembered EVERYTHING I had taught this year. (And that next year, I will be such a better teacher). It has been forever since I blogged--tonight was the first night in 2 weeks we ate dinner at our house--things have been INSANE, but I have a lot of sweet stories. So....this is the last blog of my first year of teaching. :)
*I was working on a "thank you" gift for our teacher coach who loves my kids and the volunteer who comes into my room once a week. We made them each a card, and the kids wrote very sweet things to them. Then I decided to order a picture of my class for each of them and frame it. Then I ordered a 8x11 print of my class to frame in MY house. Let's just say, my husband was very gracious to allow me to keep it in our living room.
*We went on our last field trip to a Farm last week. It was SO fun. For the last 2 weeks we had been learning about different farm animals and writing books about them. My kids were ADORABLE as we went on a tour of the farm. The guide asked them questions about the animals and the kids knew EVERY answer. :) So fun! After the tour we went on a hay ride--one of my kids was TERRIFIED as the horses started moving and was clenching to my arm. All the other kids were so excited at the adventure. The kids had a chance to feed goats, and then after lunch we split up into small groups. I had several parent volunteers who took my "easy" kids and I gave myself 5 of my craziest kids. I brought some quarters to buy food to feed some of the animals. So we started with the chickens. I have an African child who has the FUNNIEST facial expressions--she was feeding the chickens and then one of them sort of pecked her through the fence. She JUMPED up and SCREAMED as she dropped all of the chicken food. We both started laughing so hard. Highlight of the trip. :) There were several playgrounds at the farm and I kept asking my kids if they wanted to go play, but they were far too interested in the animals. It was the greatest field trip.
*Another teacher advised me to start saying goodbye to my kids one by one, so the last week isn't super emotional. On our last Wednesday recess (when it's just me and my class outside), I pulled the kids over 1 by 1 and told them why I loved them and how proud I was of them. Their faces glowed with pride. Several of my kids came up to me after and said: Mrs., How old are you? Me-How old do you think I am? Students-90? 16? 80? :)
Student-Mrs. You are SO big.
Me-Big and fat?
Student (After looking me up and down)-No!! Big and SKINNY!
*On Thursday, we had a Kindergarten music performance and then awards/treats in our rooms afterwards. I told my kids to dress nicely, and that morning one of my students walked in wearing heals and a dress that looked a lot like mine. "Mrs!!!! I KNEW you'd wear that--I wanted to be your twin! Now I look JUST like you!!!" :)
The concert was literally the cutest thing I'd ever seen. They sang their hearts out and kept looking over at me as I gave them thumbs up. Nothing like the pride of your first performance on stage ;). Afterwards, all but 4 families came to my classroom (We're talking over 50 people in a tiny room) for Kindergarten Awards. I got very emotional as I told the parents how much I love their kids and how PROUD they should be of them. Then I gave an award to each kid of what I LOVED about them and how proud I was. I gave them each a little gift and then they read to their parents their "Favorite thing about Kindergarten". Some kids talked about the field trips, others about how much they loved centers, recess, etc. but MOST of my kids talked about how much they love Science time. (Because we get to learn the parts of a plant, because we planted grass, because we played with magnets, because we learned about animals). It was sweet. We then ate treats as I played a 20 minute slide show of the highlights of the year. The theme music was "You Got a Friend in Me". All of the parents were in their chairs, but my kids were down on the carpet--laying on their bellies, resting on their elbows and singing together and laughing as they saw each others' pictures. Another highlight of the year.
*A lot of people think that because I work in a high need area, the parents do not appreciate education. In some cases that is true, but my parents, for the most part, have been very thankful! Yes I've had big men in my face yelling at me for crazy reasons, but the next week they are your biggest fan. As each parent left our celebration, they hugged me and told me they couldn't imagine a better teacher/they didn't want their kid to go on/etc. It meant so much to me.
*The next day, one of my poorest, sweetest kids came in the door wearing a shirt with a note on it to me: Mrs, You are the most beautiful teacher because your passion for kids shines through you. Thank you for everything you've done, we will miss you, etc..." Another highlight of the year.
*Another parent sent me a note asking me to be her daughter's godmother. I was caught off guard at first, but then was very humbled and honored.
*As my kids were getting drinks the other day at the water fountain, I saw one of them flexing his muscles and looking back and forth to both arms. It starts young. :)
*We had an all-school talent show the other day and one of my babies made it in! :) She sang (belted out!!!) "The Clymb". Tears were pouring down my face as she sang so confidently and kept looking over at me as I nodded proudly and gave her thumbs up. I couldn't be more proud of her! Then some of the 5th graders got up there to sing. Their songs were GREAT and their voices were unbelieveable, but it made me very sad. These girls who are only 10/11 look like they are 18. They have been raising siblings, staying up til 2am with crying babies and acting like an adult in their homes. It just breaks my heart to watch them grow up SO fast. Several of the 5th graders were weeping uncontrollably on the last day of school, and it is understandable. This school is the ONE place where they get to act like kids. :(
*I can't express how hard it was to tear down my room and say goodbye to my kids. I knew my summer would be full of fun and rest, but as the kids BEGGED me to not make them go home for summer, it became very apparent that many of my kids won't have much food to eat. Most of them will be neglected this summer and some will not be safe. :( I was feeling a little emotional on the last day of school when the teacher coach at our school came in to present me with a book the kids and she made for me about why they love me. Each kid had written me a letter about why they love me. I had them come up 1 by 1 and read their page to me (while I magnified it on the SMart Board) Then I had the kid come give me a big hug. Several of their letters were SO sweet they made me cry....some of the kids had come SO far that I could READ their writing and it made me cry... "Look! Mrs is CRYIN!!" :) It was one of the greatest gifts I'd ever received.
*Then several parents showed up for the end of the year award ceremony. (I tell the secretaries kids who have improved in reading/writing/math/behavior...and a few kids who have perfect behavior-then kids get awards for perfect attendance and always bringing their library books back). It's not really a big deal and we don't invite parents. The parents were so sweet and thankful. Several of them handed me thank you notes written on scrap paper--worth SO much more than any monetary gift I've been given before.
*One of the moms who came's kids didn't get an award. I apologized to her and said that our big award ceremony was really last Thursday and that I loved her kid so much. She said it was ok and went ahead and took her kid home. We had a GREAT last day of school. Then about 10 minutes before the bell rang the principal came in and told me the grandpa of the kid whose mom took him early was here and was very angry at me because his kid didn't get an award. After I dismissed my kids and gave them a final hug goodbye, I went in to face the man. To make a long story short, this man (who had been a GREAT support to me before--always telling me what a great teacher I am and coming on field trips with us) was screaming at me in the hallway--telling me I was a terrible teacher and that I had "Dropped the ball"...said he was pulling his kid out of this school, cussing and wouldn't even look me in the eye. I tried to calm him down and get him to come into my room to talk, but he kept screaming. He demanded his kids' school supplies (which we share with all kids and I had bought most of). The principal walked into my room with me as I collected supplies to give him--as soon as I was out of sight of the man I broke down and could not stop crying. I was so embarassed to cry in front of my principal but tried to get the stuff together. I brought it out to him and said "have a great summer"--he grabbed the bag and stormed off without a word. I walked back into my room crying--I was SO crushed. Other teachers came in and tried to comfort me--saying that it was RIDICULOUS and that every teacher experiences crazy parents, but something about it happening from THAT family on the last day of school crushed me. Even though all these other parents were SO affirmative--the last thing I experienced in my first year, was a parent screaming in my face.
*After a few days, I have come to terms with the fact that I am not in this for the adults. I am in this for the kids. A lot of these kids have crummy homes to say the least. And I also need to remember that most of these PARENTS grew up in crummy homes too. I am letting it go, but it still really hurt. Crazy parents!
*My husband and I have deep cleaned our house, had a BBQ with friends, got a massage that we bought on groupon, bought a grill and cooked on it, went swimming several times, slept in, gone to a movie, and have been NORMAL people and it's only been 2 days!!!
I feel blessed to be on summer break, but worried about my kids. I am going to volunteer at a center that my poorest kids live at two times a week, so that will be good. My husband and I are also starting forster care classes. We are still unsure about what it will look like for us, but we are starting the classes and trusting that God will lead us. We could use your prayers.
I can't believe this is the last blog post for the year. Next time I write, I'll have new kids and it will be a new school year.
I have been so unbelievably blessed by my job. It has changed me--it has changed my husband and it will change our future. The Lord has been so faithful and I know we will NEVER be the same. :)
:)
