teaching

From Chalkboards to New Horizons

~ rdicarne ~ 7 Comments

I am on the cusp of retirement.  Thursday will be the last day of my 40-year career as a Catholic School teacher. It is hard to believe that a day that was so far off in the distance is upon me. I have loved being a teacher; I think I will always be a teacher.  Not every year or every class was wonderful.  There were certainly challenges along the way, but the treasured memories outweigh the difficult ones.

Retiring is bittersweet.  I will certainly miss being in the classroom, but I won’t miss the 5:30 alarm.  I will miss the camaraderie of my colleagues, but not grading papers. My colleagues have gone above and beyond to support me through this most difficult year, and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and well wishes they have extended on my retirement. They celebrated my retirement with a surprise party a couple of weeks ago at my favorite local restaurant.  It was wonderful.  Many former teachers were there, including my former “work kids,” who were my grade partners when they were teacher newbies and learning the ropes.

As if that weren’t enough, they celebrated me again yesterday during our end-of-the-year luncheon, complete with a baseball theme and more gifts!  I told them yesterday that on the days after Chuck died, and I felt like I couldn’t get out of bed, knowing that they would all be there to help me through made all the difference. I have been blessed beyond measure to be part of this caring community.  

While I am very excited about beginning this next chapter of slower mornings and new opportunities, I am so very, very sad that Chuck is not here to celebrate with me and be by my side on this new adventure.  It was always our plan for me to retire this year, and I stuck to the plan because it was time. Even the best-laid plans sometimes have to be revised. These last nine months have felt like being stuck in a tornado of emotions. I know Chuck would be so happy for me, and over the moon with the various ways so many people beyond my work family are celebrating me. I can picture him beaming his bright smile down on me from heaven.

I have learned a great deal about myself and about life these past nine months. My goal in retirement is to keep learning, stretching, and growing, and I am certain Chuck will keep watching over me and cheering me on from afar.  

This painting is matted and signed by all the students in my last class.

If My Room Could Talk

~ rdicarne ~ 5 Comments

My current book club selection has got me thinking about perspective. I am currently listening to The Briar Club by Kate Quinn. It is the story of an all-female boarding house in Washington, DC, in 1950. Each chapter focuses on one of the women living in Briarwood House. I am only on Chapter Four, but what I find so interesting is the Interstitial, a chapter between chapters told from the house’s perspective. That got me thinking – what if the walls of my classroom could talk? What have they observed?

Room 208 – Thursday Observations
The same two or three students unstack the chairs each morning, and today was no different. The rest of the class takes it for granted that a chair will be at each desk when they arrive in homeroom.

I love watching the students get excited when they are writing collaboratively. Sometimes, they can get silly, but they are just little kids with bigger bodies. I heard seven stories set in Gooberville!

Morning recess can get messy, especially near where the boys sit. I can’t believe how many of them miss their mouths; popcorn, pretzels, and Doritos fall on the floor. Like clockwork, M. gets the broom and dustpan to clean up after his friends. Snack trading is becoming a daily sport with high-level negotiations—some budding lawyers in this room.

Some students are very confident and raise their hands ALL THE TIME. I get tired of hearing those same voices every day. I wish I could talk to those quieter students who are afraid to answer. I would tell them to take a chance, to go for it. My friend, Room 206, tells me that some quieter ones emerge from their shells in 8th grade. (SMILE)

Do you believe some students still don’t bring all the necessary books or recess snacks to the room? The hall pass complained to me just the other day about how many hands she passes through each day! Then you have the kids who bring everything with them but leave half their belongings in class when they leave. (SHRUG)

I do love these kids like I have loved all those who came here before them. Honestly, though, I love it when the end of the day comes, and I am filled with silence. I get a peaceful night’s rest and am ready to meet them again in the morning.

What other things can I learn from my classroom? Maybe tomorrow I will chat with the pencil sharpener or one of the desks. 😉