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!

T E N

Ten years old.

I'm not sure how it went by so fast.

But here we are,

celebrating your 10th birthday!

Sadly we aren't at the beach...

your favorite place to celebrate...

but that doesn't mean we aren't

still going to honor you!

As I think back over this past year,

I am pretty sure you have grown more

this last year than any other year...

well...except for maybe your first. ;)

This past year you discovered a love

of the water park...

an almost love of amusement park rides...

and I think...found a few new activities to enjoy.

To be totally honest...

I have always worried a bit about you.

You have always been quiet, cautious,

an over-thinker, tender hearted, and unsure of yourself.

This was your year to blossom!

You started 4th grade strong...

and we could not be more proud

of how much you have grown!

Yes, I MADE you sign up for cross-country.

I know you will never let me forget it. ;)

However, you did so well!

You completely blew my mind when you

decided to run for student council.

You wrote your own speech...

Made your own poster...

and did such a great job!

You didn't win the election...

but it didn't stop you!

You are the best big brother around!

And there is no doubt that you are my favorite boy on the planet!

Your love for your family is so sweet to see.

Not only are you kind...you are also pretty smart, too. ;)

Just another "first" from this year...

oral interp!

You worked hard,

learned the lines,

the motions,

and rocked it on stage!

You were so very proud of yourself...

and have already been talking about next year. ;)

You were so excited to be a part of the stage crew

for drama...

and I know you were so 

disappointed when the production was

cancelled due to COVID-19.

You have been rocking the distance learning life.

Setting your alarm.

Waking up early to get your work done.

Because...in your words...

"the sooner I get it done, the sooner I can play." :)

Little did I know,

when I snapped this picture outside your classroom,

after Academic Showcase,

that this would be your

"Last Day of Fourth Grade" picture.

Even though the year came to an abrupt halt...

that doesn't take away from the fact that we are

so proud of you and all you have done this past year.

You are the one who made me a mom.

The one who changed my world in so many amazing ways.

Yes...there are many times I watch you

and just shake my head...

because we are so different in many ways...

yet...

every once in awhile...

you really are a "mini-me." ;)

We love you more than you will ever know!

We cannot wait to see how you change the world.

Happy TENTH Birthday, Handsome!

Heartbroken Smile

Yesterday I went back to my classroom for the first time in almost three weeks.

I had some things I needed to get to make teaching from home a bit easier,

and I had some things I needed to grab so that I can send them/deliver them to my students.

I hadn't really thought much about it.

Just another Sunday afternoon trip to my classroom.

When I walked in our hallway, I felt it.

Then, I saw my bright yellow...brand new umbrella

that I had purchased after an unfortunate afternoon at cross-walk duty...

in the "rain."

I put it in quotes because it was much more than rain. ;)

Here's proof.

The irony is that it was raining yesterday, too.

Funny thing is...I saw that umbrella and instantly wished

that I could be back in the middle of that crosswalk,

wind blowing me over, umbrella inside out, soaking wet,

rude drivers, crossing kiddos and telling them to be safe.

Why?

Because as miserable as that bit was...it was

back when things were "normal."

I stepped into my classroom,

turned on the lights,

and cried.

Yup...I ugly cried for a good 20 minutes in the middle of my classroom.

Why?

Because at that moment all of this became so real.

My classroom has never felt so lonely.

It felt cold.

It felt quiet.

It felt abandoned.

It was almost like I was a stranger in someone else's classroom.

But then it didn't.

Because as I walked around, gathering the things I needed,

I couldn't help but smile.

Smile about all of the LOVE that has been in that classroom.

Smile about all of the moments that teachers live for.

Those moments when you can see that a child "gets it."

I smiled thinking about all of the FUN that has been had in that room.

The giggles when I use a silly voice,

do a goofy dance, or nearly trip and fall on my face.

Oh yes, that has happened.

I smiled thinking about THEIR smiles

when we mix things up and we have a room transformation.

THEIR smiles when we have a guest reader in class.

THEIR smiles when we cheer each other on as names 

are added to our Bravo Board

for reaching goals and mastering concepts.

(This picture is from before the school year started. Our board is FILLED with names, now. ;) )

As I looked around the room,

at the walls that were still covered in all of their 

Academic Showcase work...

almost like a museum...

I was so very thankful.

I was thankful that even though we aren't together right now,

we had a chance to celebrate their work this year!

Thankful for the fact that before all of this craziness

really took off, we had a night where they could

show off all of THEIR hard work.

It is so funny, because I can vividly remember standing in the back of my room

that night, and my heart was just so happy as I watched my "kids"

show their parents all that they had worked on.

I remember the amazement on parents' faces as their children

showed them the Google Slides presentation they had created

on dinosaurs, the look of pride on my students' faces as they

explained to their parents what life is like in Room 202.

Little did I know that three days later,

we would be saying an unexpected good-bye.

Right before I started writing this post,

I came across this.

A friend of mine shared it on Instagram,

and I thought...

what a perfect synopsis for how so 

 many of us feel right now.

Yes, today is technically the first day of our Spring Break.

And yes, normally I would be doing some sort

of happy dance that goes like this...

But for now...I am going to save that dance

for when I get to see my "kids" again.