Why I have the best job evah!

I'll be honest.  There are moments in this job where I have to take a deep breath and remind myself that this too shall pass.  Working with little people can be overwhelming at times........especially when there are 20 little ones and 2 adults and it seems like 19 of them are saying "Miss Laura......." simultaneously.  It can be tiring to continually remind them of our group time behavior.  It requires infinite patience when someone raises their hand to tell an unrelated "story" in response to a question I pose.  However, these moments of craziness are few and far between, truly.  Most of our days together in the classroom are busy, productive, fun, and wonderful.  We laugh together, sing together, learn together and discover together.  And it is so purposeful and engaging that the time really flies.  Before we know it, it's time to go home.  I could write a VERY LONG post about all the reasons I love my job as well as the many reasons I love preschoolers. 

Instead, I'll just show you a little something that was personally delivered to me this morning.  Delivered, I must point out, by a little guy who doesn't even attend school on Friday mornings.  Still, he was insistent that his daddy bring him to school to give something very important to Miss Laura "right now."  His daddy kindly indulged him and they knocked on my door a few minutes before our morning session was set to begin.  I had my back to the door, but turned when I heard them enter.  My little student presented me with the envelope shown below.

 

I turned it over to find that it had been sealed with a very cool piece of double-stick foam tape.

 

I unfastened the tape to find this beautiful chocolate-colored leaf.  He wanted to bring it to me because he knows we will begin our study of trees soon.  :-)

 

I'm not trying to overly emphasize the importance of this particular incident.  However, I am choosing to write about it here because it illustrates the beautiful little gestures that are bestowed upon me so frequently and generously during my days at school.   Could anyone ask for a more fulfilling job? 

PS:  I'm going to try Mod-Podging the leaf this weekend to preserve it until our study of trees.  I haven't tried that technique before, but it's supposed to work really well.

Comments

[Laura]

Laura, Best wishes on your time at home. I know you wont regret taking that time together. Thanks for writing!
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Hi, Jessica. Arent those little gifts so precious? I save many of the ones I receive and keep them in my file cabinet in my office in a file called Good News. Take care, Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Thanks, Trish! I have a laminator at homenow so Ill definitely be trying that this fall.I did try the Mod-Podge and the leaflooks awesome! It is pliableandfeels very realistic. It will be interesting to see how it holds up from year to year.
Thanks again,
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Laura]

Melissa,
Thanks so much for writing such sweet words. I trulydo feel I have the best job in the world.
Laura

To: directress@live.com

[Melissa Madden]

Thank you! I don't know you, but from your post I want to reach out and hug you, but instead I will hug my daughter's teachers when I see them on Monday. Thank you to every teacher for being such an important influence in our children's lives - and especially to Montessori teachers - we are so fortunate!

[Trish Wymore]

I wanted to share that I have successfully saved small leaves like this by laminating them in my home laminator! (I have one from staples and use the heavy laminating film pouches.) I laminated leaves two years ago and they are still the same colors and in great condition! It might preserve the leaf better than mod-podge.

[Jessica]

a similar story last fall one of our little boys, who had/has a bit of a behavioral problem, pulled an envelope out of his cubby mid-morning and said this was for us, my co-teacher and myself. we were a bit wary b/c it had adult writing on it and we were worried it was a note from mom/dad. we opened it up and it was a piece of note paper with stickers all over it just a sweet and simple little gesture that meant he had thought about us over the weekend and made this for us.

[Laura in SC]

Wow! Isn't that totally why you became a teacher? I just recently decided to stay home for a while with my 2 year old and new baby arriving in December. After teaching for 11 years and loving every minute, I truly miss those teacher moments. Of course, my daughter and I are spending amazing time together, but it's a little different when someone else's child thinks that much of you and what they're learning from you!

[rainbowmummy]

I wonder if you could laminate the leaf?

[Stephanie]

OK ~ This made me tear up. Through the eyes of children, we could all take a little of that leaf as adults and run with it. How beautiful that leaf is, and I must say that I honestly would have stepped on it, walked over it, walked around it, totally would have left it unnoticed. Our children; however, see the world in such an innocent and enlightend way. A beautiful leaf with beautiful fall color. Thanks for sharing, you are a wonderful teacher and enjoy and celebrate with these kiddos!

[prekteach]

Thank you for this incredibly timely post--you have no idea how much I can identify with this after a very challenging week of teaching pre-k. Thanks so much!