This school year, I took a step out of my comfort zone of the past five years and asked for an inner-district transfer from Kindergarten to Preschool. This included a change of school buildings, as well. Looking back, this move was completely a God-thing!
This past school year has been nothing but blessings!
The first blessing is a non-material blessing in the form of our classroom aide. She has the logic where I have the determination to stay the course. Sometimes I had to let the plans go and just let the students go outside and be kids. She saw that when I was being bull-headed and wanting to teach. In addition, our aide could have taught the class, and sometimes did! She was a God-send and I am looking forward to her being in our class again next year!
The second blessing was a kind, caring, and compassionate team of teachers. I knew there were many out there, but to have a group such as the one I worked with this past year, all in one place, was life-changing. The things these teachers do, day in and day out, for their students is inspiring!
The third blessing was being given free-range, with the exception of the district phonics program, to do whatever I thought was best for my students. Our students learned without even knowing they were learning! Not only that, they learned to be kind to one another. This was evidenced in the end-of-the-year assessments. Such growth in the students!
Last, but certainly not least, the relationships! The relationships with the students. Such an amazing group of "littles." Their parents. Open communication with parents of students through phone calls, texting, a private Facebook group, monthly newsletter, other notes home, and face-to-face communication built relationships that will last way past their child's classroom experience. Relationships with the faculty. I've been awarded the opportunity to work,on a daily basis, with truly amazing, edgy, caring people. All of these people have made me excited to come to work each day. I thank them all!
After thirty-two years of teaching, I can honestly say I am renewed and inspired. The best is yet to come!
