My youngest daughter, Alex will be beginning her teaching career this September. She has been very busy creating a learning environment for her first teaching position as a kindergarten teacher. I am amazed with the creative ideas Alex has found on Pinterest and the internet. From cushioned crate storage seats to chalk painted table tops. It is rewarding for me to watch her excitement as she gets started and prepares a physical space for a learning community. Alex's emotional state is helping me as I prepare for the new teachers in my district. From a mother's lens, I have become more aware of the needs of new and returning teachers, as they open a school year. It is exciting and at the same time also overwhelming. Teaching is a challenging profession.
My message to my daughter is one that I want all teachers to remember. Keep your heart in the game. Persevere, learn, reflect, collaborate, make mistakes and learn from them, celebrate the lessons and moments that impact your students...and remember it is about the children. Make learning joyful and keep in mind that if you teach your students to love to learn, you'll ride the wave through the year... and oh what a ride it will be!