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| To read my student's posts on the Classroom SOL challenge click here |
Classroom Visitors!
They swept into my classroom, all laughter and smiles, with a confidence that somehow radiates from high school seniors. Voices, actions, laughter, faces; so completely familiar and yet different too.
Has it really been four years since they were in my class?
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| Old trips books and happy memories! |
It wasn't a perfect time since I was about to read aloud to my class and then give a lesson about how to link up to the class blog for the Slice of Life Challenge. I asked them to share their college plans (at least the plans they knew) to my class, and sent them on their way to see some other staff members, with a promise they would be back.
Later they sit on the carpet in my room, pouring over old trip books, looking at pictures from four, five, even six years ago. Adolescent cheeks and braces smile out from their pasts as memories are triggered and excitedly exclaimed over. They ask questions about our recent trips, my daughter, old colleagues. I learn about great teachers, their current dreams, their families.
It's over too soon. They are a little antsy and have run out of things to share in front of each other and my class. I need my current students to wrap up their days and clean the room. We take a group picture and say our goodbyes.
It was too long. It was too short. I feel blessed.
I love that last line! And I totally know the feeling...too long, too short & blessed!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got the opportunity to visit with these students to catch up & follow up with them. I actually ran into many former students today and, though the visits were brief, it was a wonderful feeling to recapture that bond...even for a moment! Thank you for sharing your story.
I love that last line! And I totally know the feeling...too long, too short & blessed!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got the opportunity to visit with these students to catch up & follow up with them. I actually ran into many former students today and, though the visits were brief, it was a wonderful feeling to recapture that bond...even for a moment! Thank you for sharing your story.
Your post described this so beautifully. I felt like I was there feeling your joy and juggling between current students and old. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely connection when our students come on back and say hello. I see some of my former students in the hallways as they use our school for basketball practice and sometimes, they pop in to see teachers and classrooms (how small it seems! - they say ... how tall they seem -- I say). It's a reminder of the impact that we do have, and a nice salve for those difficult days.
ReplyDeleteKevin
Ah- I miss that connection at my current school as this is only my second year here. At my previous school I got to see a few classes graduate after teaching them in third grade. Thanks for sharing this slice, as it brought back great memories of former students.
ReplyDeleteAh- I miss that connection at my current school as this is only my second year here. At my previous school I got to see a few classes graduate after teaching them in third grade. Thanks for sharing this slice, as it brought back great memories of former students.
ReplyDeleteGreat to see you returning here, Max, and lovely to see those girls (young women) back for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI totally remember that, but I don't know them personally. I like how you described the scene! I can totally see it in my mind. Nice slice!
ReplyDeleteIts funny to imagine that as us in 6 years!
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