Thanksgiving Tidbits

In the midst of the 5th grade social studies testing chaos, I choose to be thankful. I am thankful that I have a job in the middle of a recession. I am thankful it is an indoor job...I would last 35 seconds building highways or driving a combine on a large farm. I am thankful for all the interesting people I work with. We all have bad days and we all irritate one another at different times, but I work with people who are generally kind and considerate. These people do not swear at me, refuse to help me or try to control my personal life (most of the time). They bring in goodies and I share chocolates with them from my snack drawer. We all like coffee, except one and we still accept her anyway because she is nice. As trite as it may seem, I am thankful I have a job where there is time enough in the day to refresh my lipstick. I have a very shallow side and I am comfortable with it. I am thankful that there has not been a mouse in my room (yet). If there has been a mouse in my room, I have not seen it. That is the most important point.

I am thankful for my students this year. I have not always been able to say that. Some years, the students have been difficult to handle. This year my students are energetic, kind, chatty and enthusiastic and best of all, they think I am funny and cool. We all know that is why we get into teaching. I am thankful for the hundreds of hugs I receive every month from these students. They are affirming. I am thankful that when I walk down the hall, many voices (students I don't even know) ring out with..."Hey, you're the lady who does the announcements!"

All the creative and interesting personalities my little ones display daily, keep me on my toes and sometimes I find myself laughing long and hard at what my students say. I was recently asked if I had a mother. I told them yes because I was not hatched. They readily accepted this fact, although some seemed slightly puzzled by my answer. I am thankful that I have a job where I can be a stand up comedienne and that I am the only one who gets the jokes. I love that.

I am often surprised that some of my students learn as much as they do, and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for my own education and that my parents knew that education in the fullest and most complete sense, had nothing at all to do with standarized tests. I am thankful my Father spent hours with me, helping me to learn how to write well. I thank my Mother for working hard at introducing advanced vocabulary and the arts into my life. I am thankful that I can work within this crazy district and especially, with these children. I am also very thankful for turkey and pumpkin chocolate chip bread. My wish today is that my students will have something to be thankful about over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. That is my hope.