There are only eleven days of school left so I’m working to clean out closets and drawers and take things home before the last day arrives. I don’t want to have to rent a trailer to move all my stuff. LOL Besides, I have to turn in a classroom inventory soon. Better get organized so I can count everything! I also have a personal inventory of things I’ve added to my classroom in the four years that I’ve occupied it. Amazing how much stuff is needed in order to teach a room full of five year olds! I don’t know how anyone managed in a one-room school house with slates and a few readers. My inventory includes toys, science materials, art supplies, math counters, and hundreds of books. I’ve been taking books home since December!! I’m not sure where I’m going to store everything for the summer, but it has to be ready to go again by August.
I’m also taking inventory of my teaching methods. My quiet time in the morning is spent thinking about what worked this year and what didn’t. I really do try to improve a little each year- work smarter instead of harder. I remember my first year. I stayed after school for an hour or two each afternoon and then took things home to work some more. I wasn’t that dedicated- I was that scared. I just knew I would do something wrong and ruin some poor kid’s life. I’m more confident now and I have more experience to guide me. It’s like I tell my kids…when you know better you do better. (I think that’s Maya Angelou’s line.)
Also just enjoying my last days with my students. They’ve made tremendous progress and I’m so proud of them. When I listen to them read or watch them treat each other with kindness I know we’ve all done a good job. If you have a child in your life, take the time this week to spend some time just talking and having a good laugh. Life is so short. Enjoy it while you can.
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