The Special Days

Oh, the Special Days.

I super love my quiet, peaceful mornings at school before everyone arrives. It allows me to get centered and breathe.

But knowing that our school would be filled with Dads and their kids for the special breakfast 45 minutes before school started left me a little frustrated.

And then I heard them in the hall (through my closed door), disturbing my peace. And then, some came into my room (before the bell rang).

Next came something beautiful.

Smiling dads. Smiling children.

All I could do was sit back and open myself to the experience.

The dads just wanted to see where their children spend 7 hours a day. The children just wanted to let the dads look around (too shy to show them anything). The tender way the dads started helping the children pass out Valentines (I did not tell them to do that, but what a great idea!!!). The way the dads wanted to see inside the desks. To explore the room. Visit with other dads. Smiling.

My heart grew ten times in those 40 minutes.

I guess that "centering" can happen in unexpected ways. If I am open to it.

In the Quiet of the Weekend...

I find myself reflecting on a quote I saw on Instagram last night.

No matter how many years we have been teaching, we should feel like a ROOKIE every year by trying something new and not being afraid to fail. --Heidi Pauer, educator

Dreaming about the classroom I want to create.

Sipping a chai tea.

Pinteresting--finding tools and ideas that would be awesome in my dream classroom.

Pulling that all together...

I often feel like I am trying something new that I saw on IG, FB, or a blog. I love to incorporate someone's great idea or teacher trick. These have helped my classroom be fun and exciting for me (and hopefully the students). 

And I often wonder--when will it be good enough? Will my classroom, my instruction ever meet my expectations?

Probably not. 

That used to stress me out, but not any more. Because each change, each idea is adding to the instruction and hopefully the success of the students who pass through my classroom. 

So--off to incorporate the something new for next week!