shown so much love

i have been meaning to write this for a while now, but i am finally getting to it now!  it has been a few weeks since the last week of my first year!  it is such an accomplishment to look back and realize that i survived a whole year of teaching.... many weeks of planning, stress, sickness, and most importantly love from so many wonderful kiddos (and the hugs they used to express the love :) )  i got more hugs this year than i could have ever imagined! those hugs mean the world to me... they were needed by me just as much as they were needed by the kids.  it is so delightful knowing that such a young child can love so much.  every child made such an impact in my life and i am grateful of all the lessons i learned from each one. 

i was surprised at how quickly connections were created between every student.  i felt like one day i was given 21 kids to teach and the next day i had 21 endearing children whom i would eat fish for.  (and i wouldnt eat fish to save the world, let me tell ya!!! :)  with that said, there was one particular little guy that made a striking difference in my life.  j gave me a run for my money.  he definitely was a little stinker the majority of the day; however, when his true colors showed, he was just a doll.  we had a bond that i wouldnt trade for anything.  toward the end of the year, he was showing more defiance and many of us teachers believe it was because summer was coming which meant the end of structure and routines.  there were a few days when going to specials didnt sound very fun to him, so we made a deal that he could come and help me with some tasks that i needed to complete.  we had a lot of fun making our end of the year books while eating dunkaroos (a definite favorite of both of ours :) ) he was becoming one of my best friends... i cant even describe how difficult it was to watch him go on his bus home for the last time.  there were many emotional tears filled with fear for his summer and future, sadness that one of my "best friends" was leaving me, happiness that i was able to meet this wonderful boy, and worry that i will never see him again.  j, just know that you are always in my heart and prayers. 

a favorite story from the year:  there was one day when the 3rd and 4th grades were taking their standardized tests which meant we needed to stay out of the hallways to cocntrol noise level... we took a classroom bathroom break since we werent able to go to the bathroom for a few hours.  i warned everyone many times and j decided he just didnt need to go or even try.  well about 2 hours later i had pulled his reading group to my back table and while he was reading a page from his book he randomly states, "ms. johnson, youre always right." he had this smirk and was completely serious while speaking.  i was kind of taken aback since he is always sarcastic and says the exact opposite how he feels.  i just laughed and asked him why and continued with, "i know i am!  thanks for finally realizing that!"  we continue reading and discussing our book when he finally admits, "i have to go to the bathroom."  i had to ask him to repeat it a few times; i couldnt hear him because he was saying it so quietly.  i about died.  i was laughing so very hard and could not contain myself.  this had to be the best moment ever.  finally i broke through and he admitted that i was actually RIGHT!!!!  if only he had learned to listen to more of what i had to say from then on!  although, it was really nice to have that quote for the rest of the year to remind him of what he said. :)

the year was filled with such blessings, heartache and joy.  there were times when i didnt think i could survive another day, but i always tried to do my best to enter the classroom with a smile and be there for my kids the best i could.  within the last few weeks, i realized how much i truly love having a classroom.  it is so satisfying knowing the second home that i enter 5 days a week holds so much laughter, learning, and love.  i didnt know how much i really loved teaching until a few weeks ago when i gave it up for a few months.  i look forward to this next year starting fresh with a new group of kids ready to embark on our year long adventure.  it is so hard to leave the kids that you have developed these deep relationships, but it is so fun knowing that it will all start over and i can use all of the experiece i gained to know what to do and not to do for this next year.  i cant wait to make the bonds again and learn all of the fun quarks and be challenged on how to reach these new children.  bring it on! :)