Another school year has started. It is hard to believe that I just started my 7th year of teaching. I have the BEST job in the world. Now, when I say that, please keep in mind that I also believe it is one of the HARDEST jobs in the world. However, no matter how hard it is, I can step into a classroom and see the sweetest smiles that will melt even the biggest grouch's heart. I thought I would give you some highlights of my week. Some are heartbreaking, but some just make me smile. I want to always remember the little moments - the moments that define who we are. The week before school started, we heard an inspirational speaker. He kept saying two things:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." and "Attitude is everything!"
I have really tried to keep these two quotes in mind as I am at work.
Here are a few of those moments (both good and bad!)
** The last group of kiddos I taught are now in 5th grade. It is going to be really hard for me next year when I don't have any of MY students at school. I always make sure to monitor them and I always joke with them that they need to make me look good:) Anyways, yesterday one of them came up to me and said, "Ms. Bluhm, you said you were going to pull us last year to eat lunch with you and you never did." All that went through my head is, "I can't believe he remembers that." I also felt guilty. Was I really too busy to stop and take them out for lunch?After all, I know the principal is my boss, but the students are my clients. I should be doing whatever I can to make school and their experience meaningful and beneficial. You can bet that I will be stopping and taking more students out for lunch.
** I am in charge of the Primary School this year. It is our Pre-K school. The building we use is across the street from the Elementary School because there is not enough space across the street. We will be getting a new school in the neighborhood in two years so we will be able to move our smallest students over to the big school. The building that H.I.S.D. rents space from is the True Buddah Temple. So every day, I walk past the Buddah statue several times going from the classrooms to the cafeteria. It is REALLY strange to watch all the 4- year-old classes walk past it as well. It makes for some interesting questions. When I was bringing a student back from the restroom, she asked: "Why does it need food if it isn't alive?" Any advice on how I should answer these questions would be helpful.
** We have a refugee student at Neff Primary that is having a really hard time. On Wednesday at breakfast, he started throwing a fit when his dad left. I don't mean he was just crying because we have had several of those. He was trying to run out of the room. I would try to hold him back and he would start hitting, pinching, and kicking me. It just about BROKE my heart. The hardest part was knowing I couldn't communicate with him or his family. There was a lot of pointing and gesturing. I have set up a meeting on Monday with a translator so I am praying that will help.
** Half of the students at Neff are Bilingual Spanish speakers. It's hard with the little ones because they don't know much English. For those of you that know me, I LOVE talking and playing with kiddos so the language barrier is hard. However, I have learned and depended on the fact that a hug and smile speak the same language (thank goodness!)
** Part of my job is to visit classrooms. I love this part. On Thursday, I knocked on the door of a kindergarten classroom. One of the students answered the door. I looked at him and looked at the teacher. I asked her why Juan was in her classroom. He should be in 2nd grade. She told me that wasn't Juan. I told her that he looked just like a student we had in 1st grade last year (I'm talking spitting image). I continued to say hello to the class. As I was leaving, the same little boy stood up to open the door. I looked down and said, "Thank you sir!" The student proceeded to tell me, "I am a girl, but my mom cut off all my hair." I wanted to crawl under a rock. I felt horrible! Later on I was talking to her teacher and discovered she was Juan's little sister and she had to cut off her hair because of lice. I cannot believe I did that! Sometimes short hair and uniforms can get me in trouble. I will NEVER assume anything until I know for sure.
** A teacher really does live the saying "It takes a village!" I may be one of the people in charge, but I will NEVER take for granted all the people it takes to successfully run a school. Can you imagine if we didn't have the cafeteria workers to fix lunch for hungry tummies, nurses to put on bandaids, teachers to encourage new ideas and learnings, custodians to keep our campus safe and clean up the messes made when those students get sick, teacher assistants to work with at-risk students, parents to love and encourage those kiddos, office workers to keep all the paperwork in order? I can't imagine a school without these people and I am thankful.
I can't wait for all the other moments that this school year will bring. I am blessed!
(On a side note: This blog was meant for my wedding stuff, but school stuff has consumed all my time the past three weeks. Daniel is okay with that. I guess he has to be okay with that, because my school job is what will be getting us both through grad school for the next three years. He is the best and I promise to update with more wedding details soon!)
