One Hundred

Yesterday was the last day of school.

I can't believe it- the year's over.

Four full, adventurous years of teaching come and gone.

My first 100 students.

It hit me on my way home~

I have laughed with, cried with, learned from and taught one hundred kids who will 

take on the world one day.

And oh, how they have enriched my life.

Yesterday was surreal. 

Because not only did I say goodbye to my own students, but to my first students ever,who graduated from 6th grade and are moving onto middle school. 

The students who taught me how to teach~

Who made me fall in love with my career.

I'll really miss them.

And then there are my amazing students from this year.

17 boys (and we're talking boys' boys) and 8 girls, who kept me on my toes in the very best way.

Hilarious, inquisitive balls of energy who soaked up everything I said, all day long.

And how we laughed, and questioned, and talked.

They want to be scientists and doctors and basketball players and teachers.

And they will be.

This last week was crazy. 

We packed in the Economics Fair, the Egg Drop Contest, the Ancient Greek Olympics, our End of the Year Party, our End of the Year Showcase (the parents loved the skit and the scrapbooks!), an awards presentation, 2 assemblies, and of course, some dance parties. 

I was also dragged on stage to participate in a Tae Kwon Do demonstration, and broke a block of wood with my fist in front of the whole school. 

Then I kissed my bicep. ha.

Yesterday at the last minute I had each of my students write a letter for me to give my new students next year. I told them to write a few encouraging words, what to expect, what gets on my nerves, etc.

A few favorites:

Dear Student,

       Miss Robinson is the most fun teacher ever and sometimes she brings in her dog or gives us ice cream. You'll never want to leave her.

Dear New Student,

      Have a nice year with Miss Robinson. You are the most lucky student in the world! I hope you have fun with her. You are going to go on a field trip to the Capitol. You will also have lots of parties and you will be so happy with this awesome teacher.

Dear Miss Robinson's Student,

      If you're in Miss Robinson's class you will have a blast with her because she is awesome plus you get to make gingerbread houses near Christmas. These are some projects you might do when you're in Miss Robinson's class: Greek Gods and Goddesses Day, Egg Drop contest and more. You will LOVE her.

Dear 3rd Grade Students,

     Miss Robinson is the best teacher you'll ever have, so don't be nervous! You'll do lots of fun projects. You'll have the best year ever.

Dear Miss R. Students,

      You'll have the best year of your life.

(That one doesn't mince words :))

Teaching is a labor of love.

And countless reasons draw me back for more.

Including yesterday, when I looked at my 25 students on their last day of 3rd grade, tears rolling down faces and eyes shining brightly, and felt in my heart the impact I have made on their lives.

It was one heck of a year.

So to you, 3rd graders of 2011:

Congratulations! Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

You'll look up and down streets.  Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.

It's opener there
in the  wide open air.

Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry.  Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

Happy Sweet Summertime to my OES family and all of our fellow teachers!

(and thanks to Sarah for inspiring me to reread Oh the Places You'll Go. I just love it. And you.)

Happy Heart Day!

It's Valentines Day and Cupid is smiling down on us here in the DC area!

It's 60 degrees and sunny, and you better believe I'm going for a walk just as soon as I spread a little love!

This year, for our 3rd grade community service project, we teamed with a Naval hospital in our area to provide holiday decorations (and other things) to the wounded soldiers there. 

My students were in charge of making Valentines for them, and I'm so proud of the effort they put into it.

When my teammate delivered the goodies, (also in tow- bags of doggy treats for the soldiers' pets!) she told us that the nurses were so very appreciative.

This made my students feel awesome.

Today was full of valentines, cupcakes, hugs, and hearts, and my students left my classroom stuffed and happy.

They also walked around with their heads held high.

I mean- they made a contribution to our soldiers and received 15 pounds of chocolate from their friends!

What's not to love?

I'm off to pretend it's springtime for a few short hours!

Have a wonderful end to your Heart Day!

My Morning Contract

Every morning at 9 a.m. I greet each of my students by name.

It's my way of saying I've shown up-

that I'm present and notice them, and that they each belong here. 

And every morning at 9 a.m., I expect their greeting in return.

It's the contract we enter into: 

Both parties will be held accountable for making 

today the best.

But sometimes, by the end of the day, 

I feel totally exhausted.

Books have been read and equations solved,

and the contract is far from my mind.

Well, today I was reminded of its importance;

today it's sitting right inside my heart.

Today I remember everything it stands for, because something so cool happened just after dismissal.

People were staying after for talent show rehearsal, and 6 of my former students came down to my classroom to say hello.

Now, this wouldn't be abnormal, except that it was 

2 students from every year that I have taught thus far:

2 fourth graders, 2 fifth graders, 2 sixth graders.

It was incredible.

They sat with me and talked about all of the fun we had together.

About all of the projects they still remember and all of the laughter that we shared.

They asked each other "did you do this?" and "did she show you that?"

They compared stories about their year with me and said their year was "the best".

They told me everything they miss about the 3rd grade.

 the reasons for my contract.

It truly was food for my soul. 

At the end of this school year the first group of students I ever taught will head off to middle school.

The group of students I cried in front of on the last day of school.

The students I wanted to keep forever.

It is hard to believe that 75 more children have entered into my morning contract since then.

I keep a horoscope of mine that I ripped out of the paper, tucked in the pocket of my school bag:

The stars show you as very imaginative now.

Help out the uninspired.

The low-mindedness of those with nothing to do is a downward spiral.

Create objects.

Teach.

Well, there you have it.

It was in the stars.