When I was with my first grade
class their sweetness, “love notes” (little mementos they drew or wrote to me…I
have a huge pile!), hugs and stories brightened my days. I even got a written marriage proposal from
one of them—my first marriage proposal ever!—and I quote: “Will you mere
me. Can we have a date.” And he drew a house with me and him together in it. It was so sweet. I received it on my last day and the boy who
gave it to me didn’t put his name on it, but I remember thinking to myself that
I had never gotten a "love note" from this boy before. I wish he had written his name! My last day with my first graders was perhaps
one of the brightest days in my student teaching experience. It was bittersweet, of course, but so many
good things happened that day: my master teacher and I had our traditional
Starbucks together, we gave each other gifts (she gave me a framed picture of
us together with our first graders), there was a feast of autumnal goodies put
together by all the master teachers since we student teachers were leaving, I
was given presents and more love notes from my kids, and they were all
especially wonderful the entire day. Earlier that week I
had made up little parting gifts to give to each of them (one Disney pencil and
pen per student tied together with curly yellow ribbon, an Achievement
Certificate: the Outstanding Scientist Award, personalized for each student and
signed by me, and I also gave each of them a really cool holographic African
animal sticker, or “scientist badge,” made by National Geographic to wear the
entire day). As I called up each student
to give them their present and award, I got hugs from them all, including the
boys who tended to be so shy! Not only
did I get hugs, I got “I don’t want you to go” “I’m going to miss you” and “I
love you” from everyone. I had the
biggest lump in my throat but I was able to hold it together fairly well
(my master teacher and I had already cried twice that day, so I was trying to
keep the threatening tears back as best as I could) but once the bell rang for
dismissal and all my kids surrounded me, hugging me so tightly that I couldn’t
move, I completely broke down and cried.
I reassured them that I was okay, that I was crying just because I was going
to miss them so much! And in response they
hugged me all the harder. I promised
them I’d come back and see them as often as I could—and I will! Even though it was a sad day, it was also one
of the brightest and happiest days, if that makes any sense at all.
I haven’t had as much time yet with
the sixth grade class I’m in but I’m starting to get to know the kids better
day by day—and they’re growing on me, for sure!
I really like them. They’re at
that age when their senses of humor are starting to come out and they have me
smiling and laughing all the time! When I
look at them, I see myself in them—the kid in me. I love it when they find any excuse to get me
to talk to them. They’ll raise their hands,
ask a question, and then make a comment, which of course turns into a
conversation…one that I usually have to cut short, but I love that they do it! I remember doing the exact same thing to my
teachers (whom I loved!) when I was in sixth grade and to see that they’re
pulling the same stuff I did when I was little to show me that they like me
really makes me happy.
I’m learning so much about how to
be a successful teacher and I’m learning all over the place: in the classroom,
in the lounge, in parent-teacher conferences, in staff and grade-level meetings
and in talks with both my master teachers.
These two women inspire me, and I mean that with all my heart. It’s hard to explain why they inspire me…but I’m
going to try to put it into words… They’re
witty, clever, intelligent, funny, honest, genuine, caring, appreciative,
supportive, encouraging, positive, multi-talented and open-minded. They’re great story-tellers. They give me really awesome advice, and not
just about teaching but they also offer it to me in other aspects of life. They make me smile and laugh and I’m really
happy when I’m around them. There is no
doubt in my mind that God had His hand in placing me with them at this point in
my life and I’m blessed to know them.
<3
