Reflection

"And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was greater than the risk it took to bloom."

Someone quoted this on Facebook with the caption as how it is a reminder as to why we challenge ourselves today to be better than we were yesterday.

Reflecting back on this school year, I feel I have pushed myself, challenged myself (along with my students and even co-workers), and really found inspiration to motivate myself to go the extra mile.

It hasn't been easy but I've never been one of those people to take the easy route. This year I have successfully created new hands-on centers EACH week for my students to do.  They were actively engaged and learning... in a fun way! I changed my bulletin board monthly... trying to think of creative and catchy slogans and visually appealing ways to display student work.  I created and sent a parents newsletter each week.  I created my own weekly homework packets.  I published the students {differentiated} spelling lists online for them to study in a fun and interactive way on the computer.  I bought an online reading program and shared their accounts with their parents to use at home.  I leveled my classroom library (consisting of probably 1,000+ books) and labeled each basket and corresponding books.  I handmade and created a lot of materials used in my classroom (clip charts, buckets for bucket filling, garland decor, hand-painted bedazzled author's chair, student mailboxes, etc.  Implementing a math fact program that involves a lot more work than the proposed math fact program the school implements as an intervention... but it wasn't working, so I needed something else. I constantly was changing out their work I displayed in the classroom. I sacrificed extra sleep so I could get to work by 6:30am every single day (school doesn't start until 8:00)... one of the first people there each day, so that I could work hard before school so I could go home to Tyler as soon as possible. A lot of work, sweat, and tears went into this school year.

I took the time to e-mail parents throughout the year to also commemorate the kids who do an outstanding job and how much I appreciate their hard work raising a great kid, instead of only emailing about negative things.

I've spent countless hours scouring the Internet for more motivational ideas, grading papers, running copies, creating my own work on the computer, spending too much money on supplies, lots of time laminating and cutting, way too much in traffic commuting across the island, and I should probably take stock in paper since I have used/bought so much this year to do all the fun things I want to do. Tears were shed, stress were at all time highs, and there were times when I doubted myself... if I could keep doing it, if it was worth it, if I was making a difference or not.

But in the end I realize I've gotten so many smiles, seen so many "ah ha" moments, received compliments from students/parents/teachers/admin, special "thank yous" from students/parents, tons of hugs/hand holding, and seeing the end of year assessment scores just reinforce all my hard work did not go to waste... it worked! It really did.

I implemented and created/helped plan a lot of big units: beginning of the year activities, apples, pumpkins (life cycle), penguins, 50th Day, the sun and moon, weather, rocks, ice cream, clouds, 101st Day of School, Dr. Seuss rotations, multi-cultural day, family math game night, pirate day, and maybe a few others that are slipping my mind.

It's been a whirlwind of a year. Changing schools at the very.last.minute was extremely hectic and stressful. With big thanks to some great friends, I was able to pack up, haul, unpack, and set up my classroom in just a few short days. I was nervous about learning another new curriculum (I was in 2nd last year and switched to 1st) and adjusting to new teammates. Although we haven't seen eye to eye on things throughout the year, or have the same teaching styles, we've been able to work hard and pull off a lot of great events and produce a lot of great work from our students.

The kids might grow up and look back and think I was crazy... I may not be their favorite teacher they had... but I tried my hardest to give them the best education they could have and deserve!

I'm happy to have had such a great year before I take a break and become a stay-at-home-mommy to Ty.  I can only imagine what great ideas will be out there when I return to the classroom... all the more ideas to give me the inspiration to start all over again!