Summer is here!

Well, I had every intention of posting a blog at the end of the school year. I'm about 3 weeks late, but just have to share my stories.

First, let me tell you that the end of the school year is the busiest time of year. There is so much paperwork to be done and surprisingly a lot of planning. There's practice for end of the year performances and last minute tests to assess students' performance and academic ability. Everything has to be filed and the classroom has to be cleaned. What's probably the hardest for me is the emotional rollercoaster and this year more so than the last.

I realized that I loved this class. I saw so many students soar and awaken! I bonded with so many of them and honestly, I have a feeling that this class and experience will always be unforgettable. I'm never good with goodbyes and it made it even harder when my students talked about how much they would miss the class. Even though it was hard to say goodbye, it was heartwarming to know that I truly made a difference.

On the second to last day of school, we threw a party, but before the party began, we cleaned the classroom and I passed out summer work packets. I didn't even come close to finishing all of the math lessons, so I bundled them together and gave that along with the left over homework to all the kids. Believe it or not, they were so excited and it was as if they couldn't get enough work to take home. This was the best, though, one student came up to me shortly after everything was passed out and asked if he could start his work right then. "D" was one of my lowest students academically, but he has the best work ethic. He never gives up!

Somehow his work ethic was contagious that day because at one point more than half the class was sitting on the rug doing their math together. I turned to one of my aides and asked if that was something that I did or if that was normal. She told me that it was all me. Don't know how I did it, but these kids love to learn.

So now that school is out, you're probably wondering what comes next?
Well, if education was a priority in this state/country, I'd probably have a job lined up. A position was open both at my old school site and at the one I just finished working at, but HR told me that there are 200+ teachers that need to be hired before I can even be considered. You have to love how the years that you have been teaching somehow makes you a better teacher.

I've filed for unemployment and just hope for another long-term position in the fall. Until then, I'll be enjoying my city, hanging out with friends, and creating pillows, blankets, and scarves for my ETSY shop, CowanCreations...