Little Darlings

I seriously almost killed a girl today in my class. She pisses me off so much that I have a really hard time keeping my cool (and patience) with her. However, this is NOT the reason for this post.

I am blogging this today--right now--because I feel like I need to remind myself of the reasons I love teaching. I really do love my job, and I really will miss it. Sometimes I feel like I am a little too negative; focusing too much on the small handful that drive me insane and make me never want my own children.

The truth is: the good far outweigh the bad. I really enjoy teenagers. I especially love my little sophomores who are not so little by the end of the year. They have become a little more worldly (that's meant as a compliment here), a little more mature, and a lot more confident.

So, here is a short list of things I will sincerely miss about teaching high school English, Creative Writing and the school's literary magazine: Euphony staff.

1. When I ask, "What just happened?" or "What does this mean?" while we are reading something like Shakespeare, and about 10 students confidently and excitedly raise their hands to answer. (Yes... it happens, and it's awesome.)
2. If I'm absent--I have concerned students who want to know if I'm okay. I'll even get a note here and there from a substitute making sure I know my kids were concerned. (Especially since I've been pregnant... how sweet is that?)
3. I love it when I have girls tell me I "look cute today". Honestly, who doesn't love that?
4. I LOVE when students tell me "thanks" and/or wish me a good day or weekend as they are leaving my classroom. I seriously love it.
5. I'll really miss reading a poem or short story from a brilliant Creative Writing student. Seriously, there are some VERY talented students here. I am blown away at their abilities all the time.
6. Getting close to my Euphony staff students. They are a great bunch of kids with all kinds of backgrounds who are good students with good morals, who are ecstatically excited about literature, art and writing. It is so gratifying watching them create their magazine.
7. Having a really heated, yet respectful debate on something in the classroom. It's so fun to see them get so passionate.
8. Discussing really heavy topics like "The Office" and "Lost" during downtime.
9. Watching them apply something they've learned, or seeing improvement based on hard work.
10. Last, but NOT least-- I'll really miss my polite kids. The ones I can always count on to calm down their less-polite classmate... the ones who always say "thank you" for even the smallest thing... the ones who sincerely ask if they can help me with anything... the ones who genuinely smile at me and say "hello" in the halls. These are also the ones who come to visit me even when they aren't in my class. The ones I want to come visit. :)