Today is the last day of school for teachers. Tomorrow is graduation. All the grades are finalized, rooms are cleaned up, the halls are silent. The district has met and handed out honors and recognition for all our hard work and well wishes have been handed out to those leaving. I thought this would be a good day to reflect on my first year in the classroom and ruminate on the year that was.
A colleague asked me yesterday how my first year was and I really didn't know how to respond. The kids were exactly as I expected. If anything, it was me that surprised me the most. I learned so much and managed to get everything done despite all the obstacles. I will certainly do a few things differently next year - I think most first year teachers feel the same way but overall, I like where I appear to be heading and I wouldn't trade this year for anything.
This past year has been so busy with lesson plans, creating tests, taking classes, and shuffling paperwork - it seems to have passed in a blur! I had three classes to prepare for everyday and I created some resources I intend to use again to make my life easier next year. I will be teaching an additional class next year and I intend to use this summer to prepare for it as best as I can. I have also taken on a sponsor responsibility next year and I am sure I will learn as I go there too.
Sitting in the cafeteria today, we recognized the teachers that will be leaving us next year. Some will be retiring; other just moving on to hopefully, bigger and better things. One of my favorite things about this job is that things are constantly changing, evolving in to something new. Today, maybe it is the people who are leaving or just a result of the emotional rollercoaster this year has been, but it was hard for me to say goodbye to these co-workers. My daughter's UIL coach is going to a district closer home and moving up to bigger and better things, but all I wanted to do was grab her and tell her she can't go! Our district is less without her. Two of the most influential and inspiring teachers I know have retired this year and I know they will enjoy a well-deserved retirement. At the same time it breaks my heart that my two kids will not have the opportunity to experience them in the classroom. I know whomever is hired to replace them will be excellent and they have earned a rest, but I will miss them.
Graduation is tomorrow morning and it will be hard to say goodbye to these students. Since I have worked as this district for six years now, I have known most of these graduates since they were silly, scared freshmen coming in to pick up their schedules four years ago. It has been gratifying watching these students grow and mature in to wonderful young men and women and I hope I have, in some way, influenced their lives for the better.
I am looking forward to next year and hope it will be more fun and less work (although I recognize the improbability of that!) We will have some new administrators and I trust our campus will be better for their coming. Of course, there will be staff changes, a new schedule, as well as the expected new pile of students to get to know. On top of that, my son will be in High School and busy with all of his activities (mascot, band, theater, honors classes, etc.) and my daughter has bumped up to Middle School. I will also be continuing my pursuit of a Masters and will be completing two classes next fall - Library classes as part of my Library Certification.
I am wondering now why I ever started the book challenge last January! I mean, who has time to read?!
