Oh my goodness what a crazy whirlwind end of the year it was!! Like most other schools what was supposed to be the beginning of a week long spring break turned into an eleven week break away from school. It was unexpected and brought many many challenges with it. I was not ready to never see my kiddos in a classroom again. I wasn’t ready to figure out how to teach online. I wasn’t ready to experience my first end of year digitally BUT IT HAPPENED. Unexpected and definitely not what I signed up for but I survived the kids survived and it is over.
With this unexpected twist there were many things I was unable to do that I wanted to. I did not get to take my end of the year class selfies with each period, or continue to give them random stories with life advice, or read them Oh, the Places You’ll Go! on the last day, but one thing I was not willing to go without and that was end of the year letters. So I set out to write all 169 of my students letters and deliver them to their houses. This was not a small task and after planning with a coworker we mapped out all of our students houses combined, split it into three days emailed the parents and were on our way. Unfortunately I still was not able to see EVERY student one last time but the large majority I got to and it made my heart swell. I loved these kiddos they taught me so much and will always hold a special place in my teaching journey because they were my first group of students!
I am a better teacher, more confident, organized, and put together than I was before this year. We laughed together, and had countless inside jokes. There were tears, and “therapy” sessions for the crazy things that were happening in each of their lives. We had many days of getting off topic and doing things that had nothing to do with science but grew them as people. We had life stories, embarrassing moments and so so much more. For all of the teachers that ended the year feeling uncertain and unaccomplished DON’T!!! Serving these kids in this crazy time and showing them you still care and making a fool of yourself on Zoom and recorded lectures they will remember that, they will remember the love and care you put into this time to make them feel equipped to do well and succeed. You matter and made a difference. This is not an easy job, no two days are ever the same and this year was absolutely no exception to that, but the growth that happened in us as teachers and the students will be insurmountable and they will better adapt to change forever now so don’t be hard on yourself.
Summer has started and while I still don’t know what next year will look like I know after this crazy year I can tackle anything and I am excited for the adventure of the 2021-2022 school year!!
Smile Style & Science 