End of the Year "Pick Me Up"
Dear Readers,
It is that time of year..... we still have six weeks left of school, it has been a tough winter and both staff and students are tired. In addition, there are students who are not embracing the thought of a long summer vacation without the routine and structure of school, so behaviors have increased and patience is all the more important.
There are days where I have to check myself throughout the day and remind myself to be calm, cool and collected. On top of all that, our 8th graders are getting ready to transition to the high school. Although they are ready, many of them say how they cannot wait to go to high school, there is also an underlying nervousness.
As Dan Tricarico (@thezenteacher) reminds us, we have to find those moments where we can take a breath and find that inner balance. Dave Burgess (@burgessdave) recently published a post in his blog, Surviving the Home Stretch, where Dan offered 5 possibilities for coping with end of the year stress.
One of the recommendations is to find that "One Good Thing". One of mine is reading. I recently read two books that really helped me escape the stress the end of the years brings and also remind me why I walk into my classroom every day.
I had been waiting for this book to come out! Rarely do I find books that I read every single word, but this was one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ryan Sheehy's personal stories and inspirational messages. It reminded me to "Be the One for Kids" both as a teacher, a learner, a reader and a writer. It really was a joy to get lost in this book. I would highly recommend it to any educator.
Not only did I find one book that I could not put down, but I found two! I also read every page of this book! This collection of stories was just what I needed. I loved reading the different perspectives from staff in the building. It reminded me that we all have challenging days and wonderful days. We all have professional and personal lives that need our attention. It was a fantastic read.
Of course if you have not read this gem, you really should! I read it for the 2nd time this past winter as a Voxer book study and we were blessed to have Dan join us and offer his advice, insights and positive attitude. It reminded me how important it is to take care of ourselves and be in a good place both mentally and physically. Our Voxer group still exists and it has become a great community full of love and support!
I wish you all a fantastic end to the school year and remind you to find that "One Good Thing" that takes you away, even if only for a little bit!
Warmly,
Teresa
