Shopping for supplies, the last few days of warm weather, the interminable waiting to hear who your teacher will be, the cool nights and sunny days, there is so much to look forward to…
As an educator, there are mixed feelings about the return to school. Summer is over! There’s a new chance to reach a new group of students. No more days at the beach! I can work on improving my practice.
Recognizing these mixed feelings and working to make the year the best it can be are important parts of being an educator. Yes, person who works all year, I get it. Summer is off. School breaks are off. Work from 8–3. It’s an “easy” job.
Then I think about the first day of school.
My colleague sent this message out to our hallway group last evening…
“…Sending love to you all. We will begin to meet many young people tomorrow that may need us in ways we that we don’t yet know. I hope and know you all enough to know that we will approach them all with love and patience first…”
This first day sunk in even more.
- The student who is new to the school. What will their first day be like? Kind students and teachers or a return to something that they don’t want to experience again?
- The student transitioning from an elementary school to middle or high school. Changing classes, more than one teacher, the increased pace and hectic nature of the day.
- The family of a student with special needs. What will this year bring? Progress toward goals? Staying stagnant? Prayers across days and weeks and months to see changes.
- The new educator: what to do to reach my students? How do I even do this job? What if I’m a phony?
- Students who are uncomfortable in their own skin, whether through anxiety, transitions, or mental illnesses? What will this day bring?
I often gripe about smartphones and some of the trappings of the internet. These things can distract from real conversation and truly being present in your life. While you can come across a “dank meme” that makes you laugh, there are also moments in a group message or when scrolling through Facebook where you are not distracted by the disjointed conversation or railing against the government. There are moments like above when someone shares words like “love” and “patience” and you realize the gravity of the first day of school.
Yes I have jitters 12 years into my career, but what about the children? What about their families? There is so much to the first day of school that needs to be treated with love and patience and care and concern and above all, attention.
I end with another jewel from my group message..
Students don’t need a perfect teacher.
They need a teacher who gets them excited about learning.
A teacher who smiles and makes them enjoy coming to school.
Each and every day.
I am blessed to work with a group of educators who “get it” on multiple levels. There are thousands of students who have crossed their paths and been better for it. I send positivity to all educators who have started already and who are starting today. I send positivity to every child and to their families.
May this year bring you all you hoped for from learning.
