The End is Near 2013-2014

The end is near. 4 more days until the final dismissal of the 2013-2014 school year. 4 more days until school is out for the summer....finally. The final day of third grade for my students.  The final day of my third full year of teaching third grade for me. I can see that the end is near  in their inability to sit still as they on their grape chairs, as they try with all their might to focus, I can tell by the glazed over look in their eyes, as their minds are drifting to summer things; swimming and going to the park, Holiday World and grilling out, 4th of July. I hear it in their voices as the voice level in my classroom goes up, and up, and up, "Which pool do you swim at?" "Are you going to summer school?" "I'm gonna be at the Y every day." "I'm gonna play video games for eight hours straight." I see that summer is almost here in their short shorts, tank tops, and flip flops. I can tell that it is near by the Venti iced coffee that I thoughtlessly ordered this morning, to help get this teacher through. I never order a Venti. The end must be near.

It is truly bittersweet for me. This year more than ever. Each year, I come to truly love and care about the sweet kiddos in my class. They are my 20 babies. They are special. They are smart. They are talented. They have gifts. And talents. They are silly and bubbly. They have learned. And grown. And succeeded. I wonder, have I told them that enough?  Have I shown them? Have I been everything I could for them as their teacher? Do they know what they have taught me, not only what I have taught them? I pray that they do. Will they remember me when they remember 8x8? Will they remember me when they read, just for pleasure? Will they remember me when they find figurative language in poetry? Will they remember me when all of those things fade, and they have jobs and families? Will they remember me with special thoughts of third grade. I pray that they will.

This year, it is truly bitter sweet. As I say good-bye to 20 9-year-old faces eager for summer break, I get to shout, "It's summer!" to one joyful one year old who will be thrilled to have her mommy home. I envision summer days full of swimming in her baby pool, reading book after book, popsicles and ice cream, long walks, CMOE, sidewalk chalk and painting, the list goes on and on. This summer will be gone in the blink of an eye, just like this school year is.

 It is bittersweet for sure.