Back In The Saddle

It never ceases to amaze me how fast the summer flies by and here I am back to a new school year. I can't believe this is my 10th year teaching!! While it can be an exciting time of year, I hate to leave Jackson every time I have to go to work. I feel like I can't kiss him enough or snuggle him enough before I have to walk away. I know it's good for me to get out and have some other purpose to my life, but it's still hard. : (

It seems like we're going to have a fun class this year. Maybe it's because I'm a mom now, but I felt really connected to the kids today. It was the first day I had met most of them, but I feel like I have an important job. Not only is it my job to teach them, but it's also my job to keep them safe and protected throughout their day. Jason, our problem child, came up to me today at the end of the day and told me that I was a nice teacher. It's all I needed to hear to grab a hold of that child and pull him under my wing. I've always had a soft spot for the kids that struggle, the kids that life has been cruel to. My goal this year is to get those problem kids to feel like our classroom is a place of safety and a place where they can come and know that they're loved. I know I have my work cut out for me, but I love a good challenge. I felt like a mom today, not only to Jackson, but to our 35 (yes, 35!) fourth graders. It's going to be hard to try and nurture them all, but I hope I can give a little bit of myself to each one of them as I hope Jackson's teachers will do for him in the future.