At the end of the school year

I am at the end of another school year. As usual, this one had its ups and downs. I am always a tad melancholy at the end of the year because I must say good-bye to some of my favorite students. Of course it also means that I get to say good-bye to a few of my not so favorite students too. This school year's ending is particularly sad because of the furloughing of so many teachers and the retirement of others. I wish that those who are making policies were not so keen on undermining public education, but sadly the current state of the nation is to blame teachers for all the problems of the world. I so wish I could just shut my door to my classroom and ignore what is happening outside it, but I can not. So instead, I thought I would make another list, but this one will be about some of the joys of this year.

1. I want to start with the high number of my students who made it to graduation. Not only did they make it, but many of them graduated with honors. As their English teacher, I also helped them with college applications and scholarship essays. Everyone who wanted to go to college was accepted; I was as proud as any parent would be.
2. The fantastic final projects completed by my students. They did fantastic PowerPoint presentations, adding music, photos, maps and diagrams. They had to present their projects to their classmates and had to prove they were active listeners by evaluating each speaker and themselves as listeners.
3. The well written essays by my students who do not speak English as their native language.
4. The chance to teach summer school this year, enabling me to help some of my challenged students be successful after a brief hiccup in their education.
5. Being invited to another Quincenera (coming of age party for Latina girls at age 15) by a student whose brother and sister were previously in my class. (I guess I am family now!)
6. Having students who were previously in my class come back to my classes to tell my current students that everything that I have them do is important, that having experienced my high standards made the difference between passing or failing a class in college!
7. The coming together for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal in November that brought so many cultures together for a common meal that it was like the UN sitting down for a meal.
8. Being invited to the weddings of former students who remembered me fondly enough to include me at a special moment in their lives.
9. My coffee buddies on my floor who always had a positive thing to say to one another, even as changes occurred at our school that made each day more challenging than necessary. One had to have surgery related to her recent struggle with breast cancer and while she was out recovering, her position was changed from the high school to elementary school.
10. The teachers on my floor challenging each other to a dance Wii game and the 7 month pregnant teacher kicking everyones' butt on the last teacher work day.

I am going to hold onto those fond memories for the coming years as I am sure that we will have many more challenges ahead.

Simple pleasures

I want to be more aware of the simple pleasures in life so that I do not forget to live a little each day. It is too easy to focus on the day to day grind and forget what life offers. I find that if I make lists, I am able to focus my thoughts and I accomplish more. I am still unorganized, but I have a sense of accomplishment because I tackled even a few items on my list. This list is different: I do not have to do anything, just stop and enjoy a moment. My simple pleasures list (not in order of importance):

1. The snuggling hug of a sleeping baby.
2. The sloppy wet kisses of a four year old after she has had a drink.
3. Playing tickle monster with the children.
4. Having a mother and father alive and willing to be a part of my life.
5. Sisters who drive me crazy but have my back.
6. A husband who is secretly a teddy bear, but tries to hide behind a grouchy bear fascade
7. My morning cup of coffee
8. My friends who following my ramblings on facebook and this blog!
9. My students, present and past, even when they are trying to get on my last nerve (OK, there are a few who were not a pleasure, but only a few)
10. Flowers in my garden
11. Friends
12. The discovery of Udi's gluten free bagels (they rock!)
13. Finding an item on sale and having a coupon too!
14. Having the time to read a book
15. Having the time to take a shower and shave my legs!
16. Hugs
17. Massages (this is more wishful thinking since it has been over a year, I still have A Therapeutic Effect's phone number in my cell phone for when I have chance to have one)
18. My faith in God
19. Classical music, especially cello concertos
20. Singing silly children's songs at the top of my lungs, sometimes without the children in the car! ;P
21. The memories of my travels and the adventures I have had
22. Doing the boogie woogie (complete with shoulder rolls and shaking my tush) while shopping with my son in the grocery store. My husband thinks people will believe I am drunk.
23. Listening to my son "sing" Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
24. Listening to my daughter actually sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
25. Having my daughter tell me that she loves her family

Now, if each of us made a list like this, when we were having a bad day, we could just look at it and smile. Smiles are free and internationally understood. Full bodied smiles are the best.