Happy Anniversary!

One year ago today, I started working at my school. I am incredibly blessed to have a job at such a wonderfully supportive and incredible school. I work with such positive, caring, helpful, kind, and inspirational people. We have one of the most involved, thoughtful, and understanding parent communities imaginable. I genuinely hope that I will still be here in a year, and for many, many years to come. 

I know I've been complaining a lot lately, but everything I just said is one hundred percent true, and I don't want to forget one bit of that. I do not by any means take this job for granted. I am truly blessed.

This morning I went to observe a first grade classroom at another school in our district. As a new(ish) teacher, I am given a couple of half-days to go observe for the sake of professional development. I left my observation with 3 pages full of awesome ideas to try and implement in my classroom, which is both exciting and overwhelmingly daunting. The classroom I was in was ridiculously amazing, especially in terms of the students' behavior. They were practically silent all day, following directions, respectful, and on task. In my class's defense, though, they only had 13 students. 13! That's just unrealistic. 

While I was at my observation, my kiddos had the same sub that came on Monday, and who I now owe a whole bucket of treats. She is amazing and totally laid down the law with them. She started keeping tally marks on the board every time they talked, and got to nearly 100. Not even kidding. I came back to a quiet classroom full of students who were on task and working. I did my best to keep it going through the afternoon, and they did a pretty good job keeping up with it, but boy is it exhausting! I can't be off my game for even a second.

And then I ended my day with a good old round of parent-teacher conferences. I have the other half to do tomorrow still, but so far so good. 

So, yep. I'll just keep on keeping on.