I <3 being a teacher

My students are way too cute, and so enthusiastic. One of my girls said to me the other day, "I told my dad last night, 'I wish I was in school studying right now!' "

I was out last Friday for an all-day training, then again on Monday and Tuesday because I was sick. Pretty sure it was salmonella poisoning - what a miserable four days that was. When I got back to my classroom Wednesday morning, I was met by this:

Then I went downstairs to pick up my students. As soon as they saw me, they jumped for joy and smiled from ear to ear, smothering me with hugs. They took several opportunities during the day to make sure I knew they want me to be their teacher and get verification from my lips that I plan to continue being their teacher. Another of my students handed me a fat envelope. Inside were two drawings and a letter telling me that he and his friends had "mist" me, and that I am the best teacher. Boy do I love my job. I am still putting in 10-12 hours a day, but they are 12 meaningful hours, not 12 keeping-my-head-above-water hours. I am also taking a Tuesday night class because I received a full scholarship to get my Masters degree in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) in three years. It's a huge blessing, but lots of extra work.

Not all my students are enthusiastic and thankful. I've got two who are on behavior plans, and every day is a struggle between defiance and obedience, withdrawal and engagement. Literally half of my class is on individualized education plans (special ed), to add to the challenges of teaching a bilingual class. Two of them have almost no literacy skills, in English or Spanish. But I love it, and I have such great support - even better than last year.

I'd like to leave you with a video of my students practicing for a school assembly - a song I taught them to learn the seven continents and their locations (the hand movements correspond with their spot on the map). I couldn't help but smile - "beam" is a better word - as I practiced with them.

"Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord." ~Psalm 107