It has been quite a while since I have reflected about my journey so far.
Today, that." journey is quite amazing and adventuresome. Tomorrow is the 100th day of school. I have officially been a teacher for 100 days. That is a lot of days, yet it still seems like, really? only 100? I am happy to report that all my students are still trudging along with me. I recently got a new student which was something new to experience of trying to get all his supplies gathered and I didn't know I had a new student until the morning of when the secretary called into my classroom asking me to send down a student to come show my new student where our classroom was. The kids were so excited. During morning meeting that day, our new student said he was kind of nervous and quiet. Another student of mine said, "Yeah, at the first of the year I was scared too cause it was my first time here too so I didn't talk much." I then said, "And as you can see we must be nice because he got over it quick and they all talk all of the time." My class is so chatty. Even when they talk all recess, lunch, and another recess, they still cannot sit still. We are constantly doing "Simon Says", jumping jacks, head shoulder knees and toes, and countless brainboosters. They are adorable and full of energy.
My greatest achievement this year though has been my ESL student. This means he is learning English as a second language. At the first of the year he didn't say a single word and slowly he started asking to go to the bathroom, saying my name, and telling me about Mario Kart. At the beginning of the year testing, he scored low in knowing his alphabet and could not read any nonsense words. Middle of year, he could say 13 sounds for nonsense words and last week, when working with him, he said 28 sounds and read 3 whole words. I honestly almost started crying. I was so proud of him and he just has this huge smile on his face and gives me a hug. I cannot express how proud of him I am. They say each child deserves one year of growth in one years time. No matter where they start from, one year of growth. I feel with this child, he has already exceeded a years worth of growth from where he started from and we can only go up.
In other news, I am dating the most wonderful man I have ever met. He is amazing, sweet, handsome as none other, kind, smart, funny, and sweeps me off my feet. I had no idea that going to Kneaders December 4, 2013 would alter my life this drastically, but I am so excited it has. Yes, it is serious. It is two months today that we have been together. We have so many similarities, yet still have our differences to make things interesting. I am so blessed to have someone who adores me and isn't afraid to tell me. I often wonder what I did to deserve someone so incredible as him.
That is all for now. My heart is full of joy and my life an unfolding trail full of magic.
