The Past Week

Well, I FINALLY got a job! I am so excited about this job because it is ideal for me. This is my first year teaching and I am team teaching with great teacher. We have 24 second graders. It is definitely a challenge and I often wonder leave work wondering what I was thinking when I choose to become a teacher. Then I remember how much I love those stinking kids already even if I do struggle with classroom management at times. The kids naturally want to talk and let's be honest some subjects are just boring no matter how hard you try to make them interesting. I think I make at least 2-3 kids cry a day when I redirect them. No, I am not mean; they are just sensitive. I have already learned a lot this past week though. I think I am growing as a teacher. Just imagine how good I will be in 10 years! The most important thing I have learned this week is to smile and laugh whenever I can. I know that if I work hard that all my hard work will pay off. One of my teachers gave me a star I keep in my desk to go along with this poem:

The Star Polisher 

I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I'm a "star polisher."

It's a very important job. If you want to know how important my job is, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling. 

You see, I'm a teacher. The stars are the children in my class. My job is to take them in - in whatever shape they come - and shine and buff them and then send them out to take their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky. 

They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly and broken. Some stars are cuddly, soft and sweet. Some stars are prickly and thorny.

As I buff, polish, train and teach my little stars, I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them. 

Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow and for my class of little stars. 

By Leah Becks 

This poem really does help me get through the day.  I love the kids a ton!  They are all so beautiful and amazing!  I truly am excited to see how much more I grow over the next year.