Don't Forget to Smell the Roses on those Stinky Days

I read the following from a fellow teacher's blog.  It spoke to me and I need to remember to slow down on those hard days and to "smell the roses."  
This blog writer/teacher is insightful and always resourceful.  She wrote this February 3rd.  I encourage you to go to her blog and read her musings....  

Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension  

When the Day is Tough

No matter the noise, no matter the distractions, no matter how perhaps one lesson didn't go quite as expected. There is always something good to see, something wonderful to praise, and something that deserves to be recognized.


When the day has been rough and the kids have been tough, take the time to huddle. Take the time to relish the good moments because no matter what, they are there, waiting to be discovered, waiting to be remembered and shared.

So take a deep breath, gather them on the carpet, and ask them to share that one good thing from the day. Go around the circle, come back to those that need extra time, and then smile. Twenty-three golden moments all out in the open; the day couldn't have been that bad after all.

A twist on a favorite prayer

God grant me Serenity

to appreciate the unique gifts

of my students,

Courage to challenge

them to do their best,

and Wisdom

to help them become

all that You created them to be. 

Along with the Good comes the Not-So-Good

A while back I shared as sweet treat that I received during Teacher's Appreciation week. That is an example of one of the good things that happen in the life of a teacher. But just like the law of physics, with the good there is also the the not-so good and teachers have their share of that as well.

The picture above is one of my "not-so-goods" that happened about the same time that I received the Snicker Sundae.   This picture is of the entry to my classroom which includes a door and window.  One of my students became angry and punched the window with their fist causing it to break.   The window was made of safety glass so it did not shatter and thankfully the student was not hurt nor was anyone else hurt.  ( although I can imagine it must have been painful at some point for the student when the adrenaline wore off)  The picture was taken after a board was put up behind it to stabalize it until it could be fixed.   I didn't think to take the red bag down before taking the picture either-- that is our class emergency bag that is kept near the door .  We grab that on our way out the door should their be a fire or severe weather ( or drills for these things). 

When this happened , I called my administration to handle the incident because of the severity of the situation.    
 Thankfully, in my school there is more good than not-so-good..  :)

What Do Teachers Make?

Snicker Sundae

For Teacher Appreciation last spring one of my students brought me this treat - a snicker sundae.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was so sweet!  Literally!

Teachers Make a Difference

Interesting Observation

School has been out for nearly three weeks now.  I have many things I want to write, and will write them in days to come. 
In these last three weeks, I spent about one week working in my classroom doing some deep cleaning/purging of my files.  They have not been done for about 5 years because I generally don't have time during the schook year and usually feel rushed at the end of the year to make room for the summer school teachers who will be in my room.  This year my classroom is not being used, so I took advantage of the time. 
Then I took a week to work on the district level helping to align and write the common math assessment for our grade level next year.
This past week I have been doing work at home catching up on chores that have been neglected all year. 
Sprinkled throughout the 3 weeks have been fun days of relaxing, time out with friends, family, and lazy days. 
Tonight I went to a happy hour with a slew of colleagues at a local pub.  Three of them wont be returning to our building next year, so it it was good to have this time with them to laugh, to tell stories, and to have a good time.  I havent seen many of them since the last couple days of school 3 weeks ago.
One such friend looked at me and said that I was looking very relaxed-- that I looked happy and glowing and so different since school has ended.  She remarked that the time off has been good for me. 

How interesting---  that the stress of the year physically manifested itself upon me without me realizing it and now as summer unfolds, the year leaves me.  I know that this past year was a hard year. Physically, mentally, emotionally.  But I guess it was visible as well.