"Ms.Kitchens, I need you"

This past week was a really HARD week for me, teaching. It has a lot to do with this test prep stuff, but then some to do with the fact that I'm a full grown teacher and I'm ready to do it on my own. I don't know it all, but my wings need to fly.

By Friday, I was spent. I was DONE. My mind had checked out before I even got to school that day. And it stayed checked out until I heard the words that I hear quite frequently, "Ms. Kitchens, I need you." Do they always need me when they say this? No. More than half of the time they don't need me at all, but there is just something about those words and knowing that in some ways, they do need me just as much as I need them. That makes even the hardest days enjoyable, worth while, and purposeful.

:)

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

I can remember being in the eleventh grade and my English teacher reading me this quote for the first time. I remember how intrigued by the discovery or realization that the past as well as the future were no match for what was existing within me at that very moment. I heard someone say something tonight that made me stop and think just as hard as this quote made me think 6 years ago. She said, "If you believe in what you're speaking and standing for, so will others. Your sheer conviction will play the biggest roll in you convincing them that you know what you’re talking about, no matter how young you are"

I think this is profound. I think it's real. And I think I love it. :)

When Feeling Successful and Being Successful Meet

The week of March 1st was an amazing week for me. I taught all week long, which was not much different from the previous week, but something inside of me was definitely more aligned. I taught with all of my heart. I poured myself into what I was teaching and I allowed my students to DO in order to gain understanding~exactly what learning is meant to be. I focused on bringing out the authors in them in order to teach them "Author's purpose" They made commercials. They did research. They asked questions. They explored. They learned, and they proved that yesterday when they were tested. They did amazing! When the day was over and I thought about what had happened in that classroom all week long, I was extremely proud of my students and myself.

The greatest feeling of "I was created to do this" has emerged over the last few months and I can't imagine my life any different than the way that it is. I am so in love with what I do on a daily basis. I'm in love with the aspect of figuring it out, in love with the challenges, in love with the reciprocal relationship.

My flame is burning brightly for my students in hopes that they will be fully ignited, and seeing that ignition take place refuels me. Watching them learn and their eyes light up when they realize that they can do it, that they understand it, that's all the fuel I need. It's that simple.

My students are truly my fuel to do what I do, and the beauty of that relationship is one of the most powerful things that I have ever known.

Reaffirming Days

Some days are just so amazing that it's hard to feel anything but pure delight.

As I was leaving school today, turning off the lights, locking the door I reflected on what had occurred in that room throughout the day. I thought about the connections that had been made, the creativity that I had seen flourish, the love that had been shown, and all of the wonderful things that had happened. Of course there had been what I like to call "momentary mayhem," but for the most part, we all learned today, we were engaged and we were excited.

Today I have the greatest feeling of belonging. I belong to a profession. I belong to a love. I belong in a classroom.

I'm a teacher. I'm an advocate, and I know how to do whatever it takes to get my students what they need. I know how my growth and commitment to being a life long learner directly impacts how I teach them and how well I teach them.

I love being a teacher, and I thank God everyday that I get to wake up and belong.