Three weeks in...

Three weeks in and reality has set in. The work that must be done is apparent; the relationships that must be developed are pressing; the DIRE need of certain students is showing itself. In addition to serving special education students, I am teaching a CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) math class for students who have yet to pass. It is a class filled with mostly seniors who have not yet passed a test based on 7-8th grade standards. It is the highlight of my day :)

I LOVE it! These are students who have ALWAYS felt unsuccessful in school but they are total sweethearts and trying so hard. I feel like I am ABLE to make them feel successful, push them and be their cheerleader. They get five opportunities to pass this year and if they don't, they don't graduate. I feel IMMENSE pressure to have them pass and I am doing everything possible to make sure that happens. First test date is in October-we shall see.

Here is to building relationships, being consistent, and building a class where each student pushes each other so that they can get to that diploma; I dream about a class where 100% pass this CAHSEE math and 100% of my special education students graduate....

Pray for me :)

Leadership..

Leadership is something I have been thinking a lot about as I enter both my fourth year teaching and enter with a desire to do something bigger. This is a GREAT reminder of the small moments that make all the difference...

http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership.html?source=tumblr#.UCCNFgnzRLO.tumblr

Bring on Year #4....

It is hard to believe I am about to start my 4th year of teaching. I report back tomorrow morning and feel a wave of emotions. I am excited, nervous, anxious and scared but am SO excited because it all feels right.

Although I will be teaching at the same school, I am taking on a new role as a resource specialist. It is still working with students with disabilities but more in the general education environment. All students on my caseload are in general education classes and it is my job to ensure they are successful whether that is through co-teaching or small group pull-out. I am really excited to transition into this new role. I think that I will encounter some challenges that will be very different than my challenges the last three years. I am excited to see what is in store for me.

In addition, my school closed. I will be on the same campus, but three schools merged into one. This is an exciting time, but also a challenging one. Look for more on this as time passes in the next couple of weeks. I feel fortunate to be at a school where the possibilities are endless and my professional growth as a teacher leader is valued.

May this year bring much success, laughter, moments of glory, hard work and dedication....May it also bring stories of success for the young people who walk through the doors on August 27th!

Thoughtful and meaningful gift

After 3 years of teaching a young man, he gave me this as a thank-you gift on Friday....

He came to me after being in Non-Public Day School and living in a group home. We had our fair share of behavior issues, trust issues, attendance and attitude issues but I do believe that I changed his life in a positive way.

Last school year, I put a different quote on the whiteboard each day. Some days I would read it aloud to the class, some days students would comment on it and some days it would just go untouched and unnoticed. Or so I thought.

These two quote boards will forever symbolize my classroom and my first three years teaching at my school. They represent the love, passion, inspiration, dedication and resiliency that my students showed me but I also showed to them. It paid off. This young man noticed. He changed his life in a positive way and is on his way to accomplishing his dreams. And I know that I played a part in that.

Because he noticed, he wanted to give back to me. Well, he gave me the perfect thing. Quotes that will symbolize and represent all that he NOTICED and all that he gave to me.

Nothing but love...

Final words from my principal...

At our school closing celebration, my principal said these words about me (I forever want to remember these as she is a mentor and a close friend and her words mean the world to me)...

I see in you the hope and light and sunshine and Martin Luther King Jr. style compassion and goodness. I see dedication and tenacity and pure will and a golden heart. I see you smiling through the low and the rough. I see perseverance and a deep sense of purpose. I have been lucky to know you, to watch you grow as a teacher, to witness your leadership through shining positive example. You are a practitioner of love, and this practice has enveloped the people around you.

A thousand words...

A thousand words come to mind when I see these pictures (more on what those words are another day) but I started three years ago with among others, these 5 students. Yesterday, they made their dreams a reality when they graduated high school. Kind words, tears, gratitude, smiles and passion were shared between them, their families and myself and it just further RE-AFFIRMED that I am doing what I am supposed to be doing in life.

Who woulda thought teaching adults could be AS enriching as teaching our youth?

I had no idea but this year I was given the opportunity to teach a credentialing class to first year teachers and I am SO GLAD I did it. Not only did I learn a lot about teaching adults, but it continually pushed my own teaching practice and along the way, people re-affirmed my ability to inspire others. It also confirmed that down the road, I would love to work at a university as a professor.

In the card that I received, here are a few things that the participants wrote (it touched me in a BIG way):

• Thank you for everything. It has been a pleasure learning from you this past year. You inspired me to continually work hard to impact student achievement in a positive way.
• Thank you for all of the inspiration, guidance, and support. This year has been filled with many moments where your kindness and help have kept me focused, grounded and positive.
• Thank you so much for all your have done. While I have learned many things from you-the biggest one is what it means to teach from the heart. All of the heartfelt thoughtful things you did-things even as simple as an encouraging e-mail are so powerful and I am more conscious of what it means to teach from the heart and show my students I appreciate their work because of you.

I hope I continually get these opportunities. It pushes me as a person, a practitioner and a leader.