Beginnings

The thing I love most about my job are the beginnings. Each year brings a new classroom full of eager, rejuvenated little hearts and minds... It's overhelming when I think of how they must see me... being mommy, nurse, teacher, motivator, comforter, protector to twenty-something seven year olds doesn't always come so natural. My prayer is that I can effectively take on these roles to give each of them exactly what they need. My heart rejoices when I can, but it breaks when I can't. I cherish every child who is given to me and for the brief time that we have together (really a lot longer than that), I see them as just that.. mine. Each of them is their own little mystery and I want to know their story, discover who they are and most importantly help them learn to discover themselves. I'm starting this blog so we can share a little bit of our year long journey together.

This year will be my third year teaching at CFG Elementary. Two things let me know that it was the right school for me.. When I drove up and saw the pasture full of grazing Charolais next to the playground (Charolais are the white cows.. I'm a farm girl through and through!). The second was when I met the amazing group of women who teach alongside me. I won't even attempt to describe the blessings that each of them bring to my life. Watching the way that they selflessly love and fight for their students has taught me more than any amount of teacher education I have ever had (or ever will have.) I went to the College of Charleston and earned my B.A. in Early Childhood Education. I moved to Clemson for a brief time after college before landing my job, which I consider to be the biggest blessing (apart from my family) in my life thus far. The past two years have been quite the roller coaster of emotions. Coming into education at a time when so many big changes were happening was really exhausting on the best days, and completely defeating on the worst. I came to the realization that teaching is such a continuum that I can never fully be a "master" at my trade. I can only love my students and try to do right by them by making an effort to become a full time learner myself. My heart has grown more than it ever has in the past two years, and on the days when I'm not so sure, that's my affirmation that teaching is right for me. I was thrilled to meet many of my new students at CFG's registration this week! My ears have been filled with so many wonderful things about them. I've been busy getting my room together and trying to reflect on last year and what can be done better. If teaching is one thing, it is a whole lot of self-reflecting. 

To the parents of my 21 babies this year, I know you soon will be curious about the person your child spends their days with. And while I know I can't love them quite like you do, I promise that I will love them unconditionally. Not because of how sweet or smart or well-behaved they are, but because they are mine. I will treasure them, pray over them, celebrate with them and hurt when they are hurting. I will work hard to challenge them and try to make them understand that they can be anything they want to be. I don't do those things because it's my job, I do them because I know your child is worth it. I'm looking forward to a wonderful, adventurous year together! I hope you will partner with me to make sure your child has an amazing second grade year.