Wednesday, July 28, 2010

School Days Are a Comin' {Bigger Picture Moment}


As many of you know, I teach 5th grade.  I love teaching (it's my life), and this time of year is one of my favorites!  It's that time where I go in to rearrange, clean, organize, and decorate.  I love setting up my room for the school year.

Although it is a lot of fun, it's also A LOT of work.  For the next couple of weeks, I will visit my school for a couple hours a day.  I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so everything has to be just right before all of my kiddos show up for open house night.  It's hard to believe that it's only a couple of weeks away.

I feel so refreshed and positive heading into this school year knowing that my master's degree is completed.  I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.  It was a tough two school years.  Balancing planning, researching, grading, extra curriculars, and master's classes and the work that goes along with it was not any easy task for this teacher.

See I'm the type of teacher that is never satisfied with my teaching.  I become my own worst critic (in a good way).  I set extremely high standards and push myself to become the best teacher I could possibly be.  I'm always reading the newest research based strategies and planning new activities and units for my students.  I take my job extremely seriously, and I don't rest until I know it's my best!

Looking back at the past two years, I realize that I not only made it through many rough patches, but I grew as both a person and as a teacher.  It's tough being a teacher... everyday there is always an obstacle to overcome.  On those tough days, there are a lot of doubts floating around in my head.  Am I doing everything I can to help this child?  Could that lesson have gone better?  At the end of the day (or summer, I should say), I'm so proud of the teacher and person I have become.  All of the tough days are worth just one instance when a student comes up and says, "Mrs. Lerch, I miss your class so much.  You made me love school!"
  
I love my job and all of my wonderful kiddos!


I'll be back to teacher-mode soon!

8 comments:

Corinne Cunningham

YOU are one of the good ones :) I hope my kids have teachers like you, Stephanie.

Thank you for linking up (the linky post *should* be up at 12:01... we'll see if my scheduling works! If not it'll be up tomorrow morning!)

Cristina

I wish you were my kids' teacher :)
I admire your commitment and excitement.

Maureen

Good for you, that is a huge accomplishment. Best wishes for a great school year.

Melissa

Thanks for being a passionate teacher! It makes such a difference!

Jade @ Tasting Grace

Awesome. Just awesome. On many levels.

Hyacynth

It's so nice to hear your words! I'm glad little kids have a teacher like you -- who is passionate about teaching. You are the kind of teacher I would want my little ones to have.

Stephanie

Thank you all for the positive responses! It means so much to me!

michelle

I'm gearing back up too! Although a long inservice yesterday was NOT what I needed to get my heart ready for all those new faces. And this is the first year that I will be sending my son off as well..
thanks for your positive words.

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