Throwback Thursday

I can't believe I will be beginning my 5th year of teaching this August. Time sure has flown by! I was hired as a sixth grade teacher and am still a sixth grade teacher, at the same school--I wouldn't want it any other way. I love my co-workers, classroom, and school community. I remember when I first go hired at my job. It was my second interview. Actually, the principal emailed me, and asked me to come in! I was very nervous, but was prepared with my resume, letters, and digital portfolio. The second I walked into the principal's office I knew I wanted to work at my school. She was very welcoming and excited to hear what I had to say. I don't really remember anything about the interview except that I thought I rocked it, lol. After the interview we on a tour of the school, I remember being very impressed with the library--I guess my library growing up must have been small.
Later that night I received a call saying I got the job! I was so excited to be teaching 6th grade. It was only the end of May so I had all the way until August to get ready. I started planning the next day :) Isn't that the life of a teacher? Always planning, changing, and revising! Working at my current position has been an excellent decision in my life and I am so glad to be here.

Throwback Thursday--a day early.

I know what you're thinking, "It's not Thursday!". Well, we are going out of town in a couple hours so I thought I would do tomorrow's post, today. Today's teaching moment that reminds me about the joy of teaching comes from my first year of teaching. I was fortunate enough to get grants, money from my school, and legislative money for new teachers that I was able to stock a COMPLETELY empty room (except for some glue bottles) with first year essentials. With a little help from my mom, other teachers and the school/grant money I was given, my room was looking pretty nice! One subject I love to teach is art (GASP!). Art is not in schools enough today! I am not an excellent artist by any means, but it is fun to learn new things and get in touch with our creative sides. I fear art will one day be taken from us in education because we are pushed so much to do other subjects. Well, my personally belief is some kids need that creative outlet and twice a month won't hurt us intellectually, in fact it will help our brains grow more creatively! Anyway, that was a tangent. The point is, my first year I also bought tons of art supplies, I like to use different mediums and sixth graders can be very artistic, so it is fun to see their creations. One day I was pulling open my art drawer and another student came up to me. She noticed  I was getting out supplies for art. I guess kids just think these supplies just appear or that every teacher comes equipped with water colors. Whatever the case, she paused, looked up at me, and said, "Mrs. Kwant, I am so proud of you!". She was thrilled to see all the art supplies we would be using throughout the year. I took it as she was proud and excited to have new supplies to try new art projects. Whether that was the case or not, I was happy she was proud of me!
Sometimes 6th graders don't get the credit they deserve. In our elementary school they are the oldest, have the biggest attitudes, and tend to "rule the school." Deep down, they are sweet, want to be loved, enjoy learning, and are seriously hard workers with some pretty funny personalities! I love my job and am happy to reflect on the moments that make it all worth it for me.
Teresa

Throwback Thursday

This is the day I look back and reminisce about all the moments that remind me why I love to teach. This particular moment happened at the beginning of this past school year. It was the beginning of September and I was a new mom. My son is now 15 months old, but at the time he was only 6 months old. I had a particular hard morning, Cam was crying when I left and I felt so guilty leaving him ( I don't know if that feeling will ever go away). Arriving at school wiping away tears, I walked into my classroom and got the room ready for the morning. As the kids filed in, a student came up to me with a gift: a Popsicle stick house she had made. I imagine this house took her a couple of hours to make the night before as she thought of all the little details (porch included) to add to the house. My heart melted, as it always does when students give me little things like this, and I accepted it happily. As I looked inside the "Front door" I discovered a note written by the student. This girl was going to be moving at the end of the week, and while I had only been her teacher for 4 short weeks she was thinking of me. A portion of the note read, "Even though I don't know you very well, I think you are a great mom." If my heart melted before with the sight of the stick house, it was now a puddle on the floor mixed with tears, because little did this girl know that earlier that morning I was so sad to have left my little boy and she was writing me notes, words I needed to hear :) What a cutie! While it is still hard to leave my son at home, I appreciate the love my students have for me as well! Teaching is not just a "professional" job, it is a job filled with love, honor, care and hard work. It's nice to have those reminders about why we do what we do!