Back In The Saddle

It is hard to believe that I haven't written in over a year. As a blogger, I don't feel so terrible. But as a teacher, I feel all sorts of guilt. What kind of a role model am I? I have struggled with writing the past year for a few reasons, but I was finally inspired to hit that new post button. I have my colleague, Mrs. Sittig, to thank for that. This year, my Social Arts co-teacher decided to jump in the writing pool as we got our students' blogs set up for the year. Her first couple of posts were just the reminder I needed to remember that blogging is about writing in the moment. You have to not pressure yourself about if your topic is good enough. Just sit down, start typing, and see what comes out.  I had lost sight of that. I only hope I will be able to keep up with her this year!

Speaking of this year, can I tell you how great my students are? When anyone asks how my year is going I have been answering with, "They laugh at my jokes. That's all that matters." And while I don't mean to sound flippant, I truly believe that after 18 years of teaching that laughter is the number one ingredient to having a good year. To be able to laugh with 12-13 year olds might just mean I am very immature but if you have ever hung around with people this age, you know that they don't always let their guard down. I work hard at the beginning of the year to create an atmosphere, alongside Mrs. Sittig, where kids feel safe. I, of course, think this is important for those times when kids are hurting and need someone. I have already had lunch with a new student who was too scared to eat lunch in the cafeteria, listened as a student struggled with the separation of their parents, and grieved with another who had tragically lost their older brother. But in fostering this trust, I also allow for students to find the humor in things, laugh at themselves and me, and never take anything too seriously.

Kids today seem to be so wrapped up in fear and anxiety. I remember how challenging my middle school years were. I can't imagine if I had to battle panic attacks or digestive issues caused by things I felt I couldn't control. With all the pressures of the world that weigh far too heavily on today's youth, I want my classroom to be a place where those things can be set aside for 80 minutes. And if we haven't had a laugh by the time class ends, then I deem it a bad class. A year where students aren't able to be comfortable enough with themselves to laugh at their dorky teacher, that is a bad year.

This year has been filled with lots of smiles, smirks, and laughs. A good year. And if any of my students are reading this, I hope you feel the same way. I am pretty excited to spend the next nine months with you. You have impressed me not just with your work in the classroom but your willingness to try new things. Our time spent volunteering at the Patroon Land Farm was a great day where you showed how you could work together in order to help others. And the amount of you who are working hard to get in your permission slip to volunteer at the soup kitchen has been overwhelming. I've never seen anything like it. And while I know that we have had and will continue to have some bumps in the road here and there, I truly appreciate the effort you have shown.

See? Blogging isn't so hard? I just wrote all that while waiting for my daughters to finish their gymnastics practice! I can't wait to discover what else I will write about this year.