Year Four

Room 112, my home for the last 3 years is all cleaned up and packed up, and still it's hard for me to believe that my fourth year of teaching is over and done with. It's been a good year. Hard at times, some challenging kids, but it all turned out all good. By the time they walked out of my room, I liked them all. :) We've spent the last week publishing our last writing pieces, having writing celebrations, partaking in 8th grade graduation festivities, celebrating how far they've come as readers and writers and generally having a good time. It's been fun.


And, a lot of them I really will miss. I meant it when I told them to come back and visit me! And, amidst their tears and hugs (they were an emotional bunch this year! :)), they told me they would.


And then I spent today, a full 8 hours, cleaning out and organizing my room. Next year I'm going to be moving upstairs, to a new room, so I thought it was a good opportunity to do some spring cleaning--I had no idea it would take that long! But, it was well worth it. It makes my heart happy to have everything filed and in its place. And, I know I will be SO thankful to have it already done when I get back in August.

As well, next year will also bring another change other than just my room, as I'll be taking over as English department chair. Tracy, a mentor and friend, who came to my school the same year as I did and brought readers and writers workshop with her, totally revolutionizing how english was taught at my school, is moving to Austin this month. She has taught me SO much about teaching and really instilled a passion in me for it and a vision for how, for some of these kids, literacy really can be life changing. I am scared out of my mind, because compared to her I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm praying that it will all work out! :) Our last department meeting this week was actually promising, so I'm leaving for the summer with hope that next year will be better than this year! This year our department was full of dissension and frustration; hopefully the honest conversations we've had over the last few weeks can bring about some change.

And, I'm leaving my room for summer break with this note in my hand. On his way out the door on the last day of school, he came up to me and gave me a hug and then told me "when you get to your room, look on your desk. I left you a note on your cell phone. I wrote it all myself." When he came to me this year, he couldn't read, couldn't write. He'd been faking people out for years and had become an expert on it. This year we got real about it and, while he's not on grade level yet by any means, he's learning, and his confidence is growing. He's been one of my favorite kids this year and the biggest challenge I've ever had teaching, by far.

And, with this note, he totally made my day. I'm praying for him as he goes into high school, that he doesn't fall through the cracks.

And with that note, good bye to year four. It's been a good year. It's been tough, but gratifying, and I've learned a lot. Bring on year five! :)