Back to School

For months now we've been seeing signs that fall is coming.  From Target putting out school supplies in July to Halloween candy spilling over the shelves at every grocery store, summer is rushed to an end before it is truly over.  And while I plan to savor these last few weeks of the season I have to admit that I'm a fall girl at heart.  Sweaters and boots; crisp leaves; kicking off the holiday season; and apple picking are all reasons why I have to claim fall as my absolute favorite season.  Of course I can't overlook my life's passion, teaching, and the fact that I'll be returning back to work soon - something that excites me beyond words.  I am fortunate to absolutely love my job.  With colleagues whom I not only get along with but rely on, trust, and adore, and a school functioning under amazing leadership, it would be impossible to not love where I am.  And even though returning to school means beach days and sleeping late are (temporarily) over, when I see the faces of my students and colleagues whom I've missed so much over these past months, it'll all be worth it.

Tomorrow my school will open up its freshly polished doors for teachers to start setting up their classrooms and preparing for the upcoming year.  As I think about what's to come, I am reminded of a quote that I try to keep in mind when working with students and children, though it really applies to anyone you've encountered in your life who may be struggling with something.

patience is a virtue

It can be so easy to get angry or impatient with people we care about.  I don't know about you, but I'm more likely to voice my frustrations or anger at my husband or my sister or my mother before snapping at the person in line ahead of me at the supermarket who has more than 12 items in the express lane (really though, come on...). They say that those we are closest with generally love us no matter what, unconditionally.  Perhaps that's the rationale for sometimes treating them harshly or speaking before thinking?  In the classroom, this can be the case as well.  Sometimes the students we hope to impact in the biggest ways are the ones that provide the most challenges and try our patience day after day.  Does this mean they are "bad kids" (a phrase I've banned from my own personal vocabulary) or simply that they need more of our attention, love, and specialized care?  If a child walked up to you and said "I feel so angry all of the time because of the things I've been through...I really need your love and extra attention" you would surely hug that child and do whatever you could to improve their conditions.  So why when a child acts out - showing with words and actions that they need our love rather than saying it in a straightforward way - are we often inclined to scold, yell, belittle, embarrass, or otherwise cast away this needy child?  As a teacher, I try to remind myself as often as possible - and still it isn't always enough - that every child needs love and care in their own unique way and part of my job as an educator is to provide that.  Not only do I need to cover the math and science basics, I need to exhibit strength and empathy, compassion and care, flexibility and tact, in an effort to improve the lives of my students and model for them the morals and values of being a kind person.

Patience isn't always my strong suit.  While I'm better in the classroom than I am at home (my husband can attest to this!), I am not the person who doesn't mind waiting in line (I mind...a lot).  I am not the person who can sit calmly while my meal at a restaurant hasn't come after 40 minutes.  I am not the person who can deal with the internet being unbelievably slow (not a huge fan of Comcast right now, let me tell you).  But in my line of work patience is a must.  In life, for all of us, patience has its place.  And while it may not be the easiest virtue to practice at all times, it can make a difference in someone's day.  It can make a difference to one of my students - to boost their confidence, to give them that extra minute to solve the problem, to show them that their thoughts are important too.  And with Autumn's arrival quickly approaching, I have an even better reason to practice what I preach...!  As I head into this new school year, there are so many things on my mind but a good place to start is to remember that the ones who often seem the hardest to love are truly those that need it the most.