The 2017-2018 school year has officially come to an end for me. I like to use this time to reflect… how did I do as a teacher, how did my students do, were goals and objectives achieved, did learning occur, were my families helped, did I provide a fun and safe learning environment, and more. Unlike a lot of teachers, my students cannot speak for themselves. So, I have to rely on their body language in the classroom, growth in the classroom, and what parents see at home. When parents see the same growth we see in the classroom at home, then I know I have truly done my job. Despite this being a really tough year for Mary, Cecilia, and I on a personal level, our students somehow continued to grow and flourish. During each of my IEPs throughout the school year, parents reported growth and development at home. But, I would say the best story was the one reported by J.T.’s mom during my last IEP of the year.

J.T. is a go-getter! He knows what he wants, what he likes, and what he doesn’t like. His personality over this last year had really started to develop. In the classroom, J.T. was becoming quite fond of “no”, and doing what he wanted to do. Put him in his chair, give him an activity, turn your back, and J.T. was out of his chair, on the floor, doing what he wanted to do. Redirecting him back to his chair and the activity he was supposed to be engaging in came with a lot of vocalizing protests, backtalk (yes, he was trying to backtalk us!!!), and mean looks! Yes, we loved the personality that was developing in J.T. He was showing us that there was some feistiness behind that easygoing personality of his. It was that feistiness that also allowed for his academic growth, which I was proudly sharing at his IEP.

“J.T. has really improved in the area of academics. He is recognizing his colors, numbers, shapes, and concepts such as in, on, and under. He is also beginning to correctly answer comprehension questions related to his reading, and getting great marks on his spelling tests. I would say the most exciting improvement is in J.T.’s pre-writing skills…”

J.T.’s mom, “Oh yes, I know all about his pre-writing skills!” At that point, I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing!!! The look on her face, and the tone in her voice was hard to read. “Yes, he decided to show his momma just how good he is at writing!” What we learned at J.T.’s IEP meeting was that he had went to his mom’s desk (which is where he knows he is not allowed to go), pulled himself to a stand (a new skill that he was becoming quite good at), grabbed a black permanent marker (uh oh), took the cap off (another new skill), and wrote (scribbled) all over his mom’s desk… ooops!!!!!! Yep, apparently, we taught him real well the art of scribbling!

I didn’t know if I should apologize or celebrate!!! Kind of like my school year! Between our personal lives, and the many absences of my staff and I throughout the school year, I felt like I needed to apologize to my students and their parents. There were so many times I felt like I was teaching by a thread, that I was short-changing my students. But, despite what I felt was lack of, turned out to be the opposite. My students flourished. So, I end my year on an apology and a celebration. As people, we never know what life is going to throw at us… but, we still have to deal! As teachers, we have to keep pushing and moving forward doing the best that we can do. After all, our students are not going anywhere, and they still need to be taught! Have a blessed summer break!