My student teaching mentor gave me a book once called "The Courage To Teach."
I read the introduction page.
The truth is, I'm not so sure that courage is the main component in what I do so it didn't seem applicable. But as I sit here at my computer with another Last Chance Show behind me, I realize that maybe it does take more courage than I thought. And maybe not courage in the way that I was thinking of it. I think the real courage comes from "raising" these kids, knowing that you have no tangible connection to them other than being their teacher. Pouring yourself into their activities, working hours and hours to make things happen for them and then, poof! In the blink of an eye they are 18 and graduate, many of whom you will never see again. I know that's what I signed up for, but it doesn't make it less difficult.
I have a group of seniors this year that I have become overly attached to. We are just bonded in a way that doesn't always happen with kids. After watching all their spotlights and knowing how hard they've worked this year, and I couldn't help but be in tears multiple times. Many of them are going on into music, which makes me so happy. That's why we teach in the first place, hoping that the things we give them live on with them for a lifetime.
So, it is with weary eyes (from lack of sleep) and heavy heart (from the looming sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance") that I close this blog post with a line from one of my kiddos spotlights last night, a song that Ben just starting singing at the table with me:
"Tonight, we are young. So let's set the world on fire, we can burn brighter than the sun."
Courage, indeed.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
ugh......
This should be a form of government torture for captured spies!! Now that my room is done testing, I don't have to active monitor any more, but I do have to keep a room of 30 11th graders "quiet" until all the testing rooms are finished. That is not a simple task. They are good kids but I have a seriously chatty bunch of children and they have been sitting for almost 2 hours now. Serious...time can not move fast enough!
Actively monitor me writing about testing.
I feel like I need a blog update today, so I am spending my precious 45 minute proctor break blogging about TAKS. And by that I mean, I am proctoring, I can't tell you any more about it. Don't ask.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Warrior Dash 2012
Well... Glad I did that! And... Glad that's done! I feel pretty awesome though, kinda wish I hadn't walked, but I KNOW I was about to pass out. Just shows me how out of shape I am!
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Pajama Slacks
So, we all know about pajama jeans. I mean, I don't have any intimate experience with them myself...you know, just...I know about them in theory, ok?!
Well, these are now my pajama slacks. SO comfy, so easy. I am obsessed!!!
Look how ridiculous and small my feet look!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Sleep
Why is it that Ben won't go to bed? Isn't he tired?! I mean, he ran around like a crazy person today. I think it's just God teasing me for all the lack of sleep I caused my own patents.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Maturity
One of my students just texted me to check about his rehearsal in the morning and said he just wanted to use his time productively. Who are these children?!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Holy Week (of birthday)
This coming weekend is my 31st birthday. 30 seemed weird, 31 sounds just plain old!!
This necklace is a small early birthday present from Anthropologie!
This necklace is a small early birthday present from Anthropologie!
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