2020-2021 School Year...A Year Like No Other!

 Wow, I knew it had been awhile since I had blogged,
but I didn't realize it had been over a YEAR!

I think it is safe to say a lot has happened over the
last year. So much!

Anyway...the point of this post is to remember a school
year that wasn't like any other.
One that should be unforgettable...
but just in case, 

I wanted to make sure I documented it here. ;)

We started the year...
completely on Zoom!

That's right!

Try teaching, and connecting, 

with 27 second and third graders...

through a computer screen!

Believe it or not...

we made it work.

We were able to connect, learn, have fun,

and so much more...

all through a computer screen.

Did I mention that my own children were in my classroom...

on Zoom with their teachers...

at the same time I was teaching?

Yup.

It was an adventure.

It is funny how when I started writing this I had honestly forgotten about

this aspect of the year.

You know they say, no two kids are alike...

even if they come from the same parents...

same house.

Yup.

It is true.

Here's your proof!

Good times I tell you!

We made it to November...

and students were FINALLY able to come back...

some of them. ;)

I still remember literally tearing up as I looked

out at my classroom...WITH STUDENTS!!!

This transition meant that part of my class

stayed online,

and the other part came in-person in the afternoons.

Digital lessons.

In person lessons.

Google Classroom.

Zoom.

Copies.

Masks.

Socially distancing.

All the things.

We did all of the things virtually...

and in person.

We learned about cultures around the world that

are represented in our community.

We did independent S.T.E.M. activities...

pretended to be archaeologists!

While we had lots of fun learning...

and created a bond unlike one I have ever had with

a class before...

it was hard.

Really hard.

By January I was ready to break.

I was ready to wave the white flag.

I spent practically every moment away from 

my classroom planning and prepping lessons

for both in-person and virtual instruction...

for second graders...

and third graders.

I felt like no matter the amount of time I worked,

it still wasn't enough.

I felt like not only was I failing my students,

but that I was failing Lexie and Landry as well.

I was completely overwhelmed trying to

keep everything going.

Then February came.

And finally...I got a bit of relief.

ALL of my students came back to school

in-person!!!

One of my favorite aspects of the year was our guest readers!

One of the positives of Zoom was that parents could 

volunteer to ready some fantastic stories for our class!

In March I was completely caught off guard when I

received a phone call,

letting me know that my principal had nominated

me for an award,

and I was one of seven finalists

for the California League of Elementary Schools

Teacher of the Year Award

for the Central Valley.

The award ended up going to a fellow teacher

at a neighboring school,

but I was still so touched to have been

nominated and then a finalist.

The year continued on as

we celebrated Rodeo Days...

made jam...

and had some fun with states of matter!

By the end of the year we were able to get a little bit closer...

physically...

and competed in our Standards Olympics!

I have never been so sad to say

good-bye to a group of students before.

Even though, this was hands down my most 

challenging year...

it was also my most rewarding.

Something about this whole experience brought us

so close together.

Each of these kids will forever hold

such a special place in my heart!

During a year when I spent so many

hours after school and at home crying...

feeling completely overwhelmed...

I knew that when I got back to class,

I'd be smiling and laughing with them again.

I made a slide show for my students

on the last day of school.

I think we all cried while we watched it,

looking back at all that we had been through together.

I told them, 

"You made me smile and laugh every single day!

No matter what...we will always be a family...

and I will always be here for you."

So, before we start a new year tomorrow...

as late as it might seem...

I had to make sure I took the time

to reflect on one of the biggest years of my career!

Change Your Mindset

So...many of my fellow teachers are at Get Your Teach On right now...and I am suffering from major F.O.M.O. (fear of missing out) If you haven't heard of Get Your Teach On, it is a PHENOMENAL teaching conference lead by some of the most talented and motivating teachers on the planet! One year ago I had the privilege of being invited to attend the conference in Phoenix, Arizona by my principal...and it could not have been a better year to attend.

Last school year was hard. Like really hard. I had a parent who almost quite literally broke me. Don't get me wrong...over the years I have had my fair share of "difficult" parents and being a teacher means that this is all part of the job description. Last year was different, though. I was literally brought to my breaking point...where I had to call an administrator to cover my class so that I could have a bit of an emotional breakdown where I just cried for a good 20 minutes in the office.

Why? Honestly, I'm not completely sure. Without getting into too much detail, this parent criticized every single thing in my classroom. It didn't matter if I had all of the data to support information, a plan in place, and even adjusted things to meet her requests...she still criticized. The "best" part was when she would tell me, "It isn't anything personal..." NEWSFLASH...Parents...don't ever tell an educator, "It isn't personal." Why? Because it is personal! Trust me...99.9% of us put our heart and soul into our jobs. So for you to tell us, "It isn't personal," is the biggest slap in the face. We spend many nights laying in bed, trying to think of new strategies to meet the needs of all of our students, wondering if we have done enough, thinking about how we can do better, reading up on the latest teaching strategies, planning, grading, and even worrying about those who are going through a tough time at home. So trust me, we take our jobs VERY personally!

Kristin, this is getting kind of depressing...what is your point here?

Sorry...I had to set the stage. ;)

My "O"mazing fellow Bearcats and me at GYTO Phoenix

Fast forward to January of last year...and I found myself walking the purple carpet at Get Your Teach On! The energy and fun of this conference cannot be described...and if you aren't an educator...you might not get it. :) I was so pumped to be able to learn from a teacher who I had followed for years (Amy Lemons) and to just soak in all of the good vibes...and quite honestly...escape the negative vibes I was feeling from this one parent.

Still can't believe I got to meet Amy Lemons and Hope King

Right away, during one of the first sessions, this was shared...and it was exactly what I needed to switch my mindset.

Picture taken by me, of a quote shared at GYTO Phoenix

You see...I had spent so much time worrying about what ONE parent was saying. At the same time I had held back on doing some fun things in my classroom for "fear" of what other teachers would think. Would they think I was doing "too much?" Would they talk about me in a snarky way? Maybe. Maybe they would. Maybe they did. As hard as it was...is...I try not to worry about the negativity. Trust me...if you know me really well...the fact that I am the epitome of "harmonizer" then you know this has been a BIG challenge for me. But it has been so worth it. I have tried really hard each day to not worry about what others might think or say about me...and just be ME!

The rest of the conference was nothing short of amazing! I left feeling ready to take on the world. Ready to bring a whole new level of energy into my classroom. I was ready to try new things...and go for it.

For the remainder of the year, I chose to focus my energy on those who were positive, supportive, and uplifting. Trust me...I still gave 110% to that parent's child...and that child grew tremendously over the course of the year...even if the parent didn't want to recognize it. ;) Every time the parent would criticize something, I would of course reflect on it a bit, and then reread one of the notes other parents had written during the year. 

I can honestly say that it was a year that had a huge impact on my teaching and me as a person. I grew stronger because of it. Which brings me to a book I was given this year. This year our admin team gave us each a copy of the book, The Coffee Bean, along with a jar of coffee beans, and some yummy chocolate covered coffee beans to snack on. Not going to lie...I wasn't super excited about it. However, I opened it up...and read the entire thing in one sitting! Don't worry...it isn't very long...so don't go thinking that I am some sort of literary phenom. ;) 

Image from Google

The entire time I read it, I couldn't help but think about last year. One of the big concepts in the book is to ask yourself, 

Image from Google

Without giving away too much...because I think you should go and read this book...think about how each of those reacts to boiling water. I realized that before my change in mindset, I was definitely an egg. Now, I would like to think of myself as a coffee bean...or certainly working towards becoming one.

She is jumping all over the place. What is the point of this?

I'm getting there! If you are still reading...first, "thank you," second...do you need to change your mind set? I am not going to lie...part of me wrote this for very selfish reasons. I don't want to forget or lose that feeling of empowerment I left Get Your Teach On with! When I am scrolling through my blog later...looking back at my posts...I want to remember this.

But. I also want YOU to feel inspired by this. I know I am not all of the magic that Get Your Teach On is. And if you aren't a teacher, then you are even more confused. ;) I want you to read this and think...

Photo taken by me, of a quote from GYTO Phoenix

Stop doubting yourself...and as Nike would say, "Just do it!" Stop worrying about what others might think of you or say about you...just be YOU!