The Finale

So I was thinking.... that no one told me saying good-bye was going to be so hard. I can not believe that I only have two more days until my first year of teaching is over. Over the past two weeks anytime I have thought about saying good-bye, tears have come to my eyes and I have tried my best to push them away. I have already warned my class that I will probably cry this week and not to worry, I'll be okay.

How can 21 six and seven year olds affect me this way? 

Well, first off, they have brought me so much JOY this year, and have made this year very memorable. Here is why my tears will be flowing these next two days.

1. I have been blessed with a class that loves to talk about the Lord. As mentioned before with one of my friends here, they know that God cares about them and loves them. I loved getting to listen to their conversations about who God is and what He has done for us.

Mark 10:14

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom

of God belongs to such as these."

2. I have been blessed to start my days for the past 178 school days with 21 smiling faces greeting me, ready to have a blast. 

3. I have been able to make learning fun, which is what I was most nervous about when I started 178 days ago. I have gained so much confidence in my ability to make activities fun: noun town, Oobleck, SCI FRIs, Native American head dresses, Ocean life Ipad reports, and everything in between. Seeing their smiles and their enthusiasm while working makes all the hard work of cutting out and creating completely worth it.   

4. I have been blessed with 21 fabulous students, who believe in me, encourage me, and laugh at all of my jokes. (Teaching 1st grade is a great confidence booster!)

5. I have been blessed to have been able to instill in my firsties the love of reading. One of my precious friends came up to me at Open House nine months ago and was nervous because he didn't know all of his sounds. With the help of everyone at our school he now LOVES to read to anyone who will listen, wanting to miss his center time to go read to someone.

6. The classroom community in my room is enough to make me tear up each day. Hearing a six year old encourage one of their friends to keep on going and celebrating their successes has been one of the greatest joys this year. 

While writing my good-bye letters, I realized how much I was going to miss this adorable, crazy, rowdy, caring, loving group of kids. It has been a fabulous year with many memories to reflect on. I have been blessed to be in a profession where I can see children mature and grow day by day.

 So wish me luck this week as I have to reluctantly say good-bye to my first class!  

~Rachel