Remember the Reason

This morning when I woke up the first thing that I thought of was how am I going to be able to handle walking into the classroom to meet my students today.  Just the thought of this has kept me tossing and turning all night.  Years ago, I remember watching an episode of Oprah where the guest said when a child walks into a room and you are happy to see them "does your face show it"?  Do you take the time to smile when you see them?  Children are so visual that a simple smile on your face lets them know all is well.  Ever since I ALWAYS smile at each of my students as I greet them each day, today will be no exception.  I think that my smile each morning helps them to know that it's a new day, a fresh start and all is well.  Today and each day, even if it is just through a reassuring smile, I hope you take the time to let your students know that they are the reason we teach.

Please click here to read a heartfelt post from my friend Denise of Sunny Days In Second Grade. I hope that it gives you as much inspiration as it did to me this morning.

SHINE on everyone  

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Stacy

Remember the Reason - Post #2

Friday was the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for my Shining Superstars. This week was filled with packing, playing, paperwork, parties, hugs, a few tears but a lot of laughter.  Here's a short list of what worked for me this week:

1.  Pinterest / bloggers - Thanks for all of the great ideas.  My favorite new idea was from Stephanie's blog Falling Into First. Her ice-cream sandwich sundaes were a HUGE hit with the kids and the teachers. I will never scoop another bowl of ice-cream in school again.

GENIUS idea

2. My friends - Thank you all for helping me get through this stressful week where my CRAZY, CRAZY procrastination almost caught up with me.

3.  Remembering the reason - My favorite part of the week is when I took the time to remember the reason why I teach.  Every year on the last day while the kids are watching a movie, I pull each student up one at a time to give them the one-on-one attention that they need. First, I open their gift for me. I like to do this away from the other students so that I don't hurt anyone's feeling who might not have gotten me a present. Then I tell each child what makes them special and why I will miss them.  When I'm done talking, I give them one of my extra special "sqwishy hugs" - the kind that let's them know I love them.  I know it sounds kind of sappy but the smile on a child's face while I am telling them what makes them special, is one of the reasons why I teach.

I hope that during this crazy time you had a chance to remember the reason.

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Stacy

Remember the Reason - Post #1

Meetings, deadlines, interim report cards, meetings, assessments, PLC's, planning, meetings, teaching, emails, oh and then did I mention...I have a meeting to go to?  You can tell that it is getting close to the end of the year.  Today was yet another frantic, crazy, jam packed day.  On days like these sometimes I have been known to forget to eat.  In the middle of this mad, mad day something happened that made me realize I need to slow down, take a breath and remember why I still love my job.

As I was walking one of my students to P.E. class she started to tell me story after story about...actually I have no idea what she was saying.  I was half listening to her and half thinking about the unanswered emails I had waiting on my computer once I got back to the classroom.  Anyway, I looked down at her as she rambled on and on continued her story and I just blurted out "Child H.  I love you".  She replied without missing a beat..."I know".  Which really startled me and then I said "Really, how do you know that". She replied "Because you're my teacher".

This little moment in the day touched my heart and made me remember...this is why I became a teacher.  Emails, paper work, assessments, blah, blah, blah.  To me the important thing is that this child is leaving my room at the end of kindergarten knowing that someone else in this world loves her.  Tomorrow if  when I'm stressed out again I'm going to take a moment, look at my students and remember they are the reason I do this job.

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Stacy