I know I say this every year, but I can’t believe it’s already summer break.
This past school year went by faster than any other school year in my nine years of teaching.
To quote one of my students, “You know it was a good year went it feels like we just started.”
Wise words.
A disclaimer: I love summer break.
I know I have it good.
Summer break is literally heaven.
I always forget how truly great it is until I’m living in it.
However, I’m really going to miss the group of 8th graders I had in my classroom this past year.
I don’t think I’ve ever said that as an educator. I HAVE said lines like, ‘that was a great group!’, or ‘what a fun group of kids!’, but never that I’m actually going to miss them.
But I’m really going to miss them.
This group of 8th graders were not like other groups I’ve had. These kids wanted to know me. They wanted know about my hobbies, my interests, etc… They cared about each other like no other class I’ve had. They ALWAYS had ways to crack me up in the middle of a lesson, to always remind me to have a little fun. In general, they were just really awesome kids.
Yes, there were times they tested our patience, pushed boundaries, sometimes [a lot, actually] didn’t do their assigned class work, and made some dumb decisions, but they really were SUCH an amazing class.
On one our last academic days, I decided to do an activity where they write a thank you letter to a middle school teacher. The only directions I gave were for them to do a little reflecting on their middle school years, and to think of an adult that they will remember. I explained it could be an adult that inspired them, helped them, or someone that made class fun.
I passed out my blank letter template & most went right to writing. Some asked about spelling, others asked if they could write more than one, and even those who didn’t immediately start writing sat thinking about who it was they wanted to address their letter.
It was one of the better days as an educator.
It brought joy to so many of my colleagues when I delivered letters at the end of the day. I saw some tears & a lot of smiles.
I didn’t read mine until I got home.
I was glad I did because I sat and cried.
All good tears, obviously.
But my letters were so sweet & reminded me of how terrific this group of young adults were this school year.
To restate my previous line: summer break is heaven, but I am so happy a had a group of kids to remind of the why in being a teacher. I really needed it.
I’m off to go on our second walk of the day.
xo my darlings,
