Two Weeks and Counting Down

Two weeks from now it all begins again. Approximately twenty little faces will walk into the door of my classroom home. They'll be there in person for nine months, but they will stay with me long after that time. As I drove through the torrents of rain today to go to yet another workshop I was thinking about my feelings each year at this time. I am certainly not ready to give up my summertime freedom. But then again, I'm a trifle bored and ready to get going again. This is crunch time. Teachers are working in their rooms, boxes are stacked around the hallways, and, occasionally, you can hear laughter make its way down the hall.

How do I feel at this time? Excited, more so than the children, I imagine. Although, they always walk in the door with eyes wide and sense of adventure about them. I look forward to spending more time with my work friends, too. I don't see most of them during the summer as I tend to hibernate in my house, away from noise and conversations whenever possible. I also feel a bit frightened. It's a serious job I do, one that has an impact on lives forever. I remember my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Moore. I loved her class. It was the year they taught us speedreading. I still read that way. Students remember me, too. Most of them fondly, I hope. More than anything I hope they remember that I cared about them, that I helped them believe in themselves. That, not testing or accountability, is the first, most important job of any teacher. I take this seriously. I take it to heart. I can't wait to see what this year brings...