School starts here next week for all students. But had I still been teaching, I would have been at my school about two weeks ago working like there was no tomorrow. If you're a grade school teacher, there is so much more to do than say being a middle school or high school teacher. Boxes of crayons have to be numbered, pencils sharpened, supplies put away, new text books numbered and the list goes on and on.
Do I miss it? How could I not? The minute I see back to school items in stores, I start to go into a panic until reality sets in that I am no longer teaching.
And it's sad in a way for I loved my job. I remember my very first day teaching school and my very last and have such mixed emotions. Loved kids and loved watching them soak up learning like sponges. Miss the interaction, being being the bearer of ideas and just plain miss it all.
One thing that I don't miss is the now overload of paper work on the part of a teacher. When I first started teaching, I had a lesson plan book and a grade book--that was all. When I quit, I had a lesson plan book that was at least four inches thick, a grade book, an anecdotal notebook and at least thirty other notebooks on this and that. Yes, times changed and I changed with the times.
When that first day of school arrives, I will fall into my normal funk of not being there as a teacher. How could I not?
Last week I did what I have done in the last several years: I bought three new boxes of markers, some folders and some new fine line Sharpies. Habit? Of course. Oh I'll use them all right when I do art or make cards but it's not the same--how could it be? These things are just innate in me to have every year. Skipped the notebooks though for why would I need them?
I met every new school year with enthusiasm and excitement and every last day when the students left, I cried. Every student left with a part of me and I had a part of them residing in me. Guess I am the compilation of every student I've ever had and if you were to ask me how I feel about it, I'd say it's a good thing.
I will always miss teaching school. Always. And so, I'll get out my markers and create something to let that first day go by: I have to.
Sherry Hill
Of course! Even though being a school teacher has its rough moments, there were great times, too - lots of lessons learned - with students, with other teachers. For those of us who were teachers, it's sometimes hard to be retired and very easy to miss all that interaction with other people - young and old.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more Su. Lots of lessons learned and even from students. Miss the interaction and the look on students' faces when they learned something. I just miss it.
ReplyDeleteThanks