Really?

Really? It's been four months since I've written anything??!! I am the WORST blogger ever! So much has happened this semester--and there are only two weeks left--that it is hard to process it all. I have learned, and continue to learn, some important lessons about my kids, the school, the community, the tests, the curriculum, the laws, the rules . . . but, more importantly, I have learned a lot about myself as a teacher. Some of what I've learned I have really liked and been proud of, while other things haven't been so great. I have learned that I really like kids and even on "bad" days, I still pretty much like them. That's good. However, my 10 years in higher education shows itself from time to time. I need to learn to bring things to their level. I am getting better and I continue to try to learn. I still love teaching writing and writing and that translates to my honors kids and the ones needing "help" in reading. I love when I hear kids discuss books and recommend books to each other. I like that they scream in (good) frustration over Tris and Four, holding the book high overhead and proclaiming, "I need to hurry up and read to find out what's going on!" I love that boys who proclaim to have never read a book, keep going back to my shelf to work through biographies. I have learned that I am good at coming up with some good classroom practices to promote learning; however, I still hate grading! I need to get a better attitude about it and grade in a quicker fashion. I learned that a year away from research was much needed, but I miss it and have the research bug poking its head nearly every day. I am learning the hard lesson of letting things go. I can't reach all kids, and oh do I wish I could, but it just isn't possible. 20 absences out of 80 days of school is hard to overcome. Mostly, I have relearned and re-seen just how great my colleagues--and teachers in general--are. They work so hard, with passion and joy and humor. They love the kids. We love the kids. I love the kids.