ahh… blended learning. Another educational term for something we have been doing all along, right? Of course. We all, in some capacity, have blended learning taking place in our classrooms. For some reason, when we as educators, hear a new term or educational fad, we think that these “types of lessons” are big shows that happen only occasionally. And for some maybe they do. But for most, these things happen in every classroom to some capacity.

As mentioned before, I recently attended this PD virtually and my grade-level content partners are currently having this PD in-person. I thought I would simply share some ideas. If anything, this is a space for me to come back and reflect on ideas to implement next year.

One thing that everyone thinks of with blended learning is adding technology into the everyday lesson. But, it also means incorporating paper copies, small group setting (stations/centers), or simply having differentiated learning happening simultaneously.

For example, in my 6th grade ELA classroom, I run stations. I have students grouped together based off of reading/skill abilities. Each group gets teacher instructions at a differentiated level based on needs, grade level instruction through an instructional video that is created by the teacher (in my case, my teaching partner), grade level instruction via iReady (computer program purchased by the district), and independent reading time. This in itself is blended learning.

Teaching during a pandemic has caused us all to become innovative in how we teach and present information for our students. Using Pear Deck has definitely been beneficial with this. Having the deck on student pace, allows students to work independently and does create some engagement opportunities with images, gifs, and videos. My students favorite part of Pear Deck, is the drawing function. Here, students have the ability to draw their answers. I have used this feature recently during our class read aloud. I simply have students draw a scene from the daily reading and explain what is happening. This may be a specific scene, or their favorite scene. This shows me that my students are comprehending the text as well as using visualization. The best part? I can share one, or all of these drawings whole class! My kids love it!

Another idea that we are working on is using an Echo Dot in the classroom. There are several possibilities that can happen with this. Here is what we have discussed at this point.

1. setting timers. This will allow us to set time deadlines for not only students, but mostly ourselves. This also will help me with knowing when to dismiss my students to the next class. This has been a major struggle for me this year.
2. I can play music without being attached to my computer! What a great feeling this is! Most of the time, I feel that I cannot move about the classroom because I am tied to my device. This will give me a little more freedom to move about.
3. Adding sound effects! Oh. My. GOODNESS! How engaging will this be?! My first instinct is music with my read alouds. Currently we are reading The Hunger Games. How cool will it be to insert trumpet noises when the Capitol makes announcements?!
4. What about when I have to be out of the classroom and a substitute is present? I could totally drop in with announcements for my students!

Here are my concerns that I will have to think about and the logistics of it all.

1. these are easily hacked. How do I increase the security of these in my classroom?
2. Because they are easily hacked, I may not be able to connect to wifi and will only be able to connect to my personal hotspot. How would this affect the usage in my classroom?

We have also discussed having “Student Experts” in the classroom. This is something that I have informally installed in my room regarding technology, but not with content. We have discussed having designated experts on the weekly skills that we are learning. Of course there would be some sort of assessment that would take place to determine the experts.

These experts would be seated in a specific area of the classroom (special seating) and these would be the people that students would confer with when I am not available and working with other students. This would help free me up to work with more students one-on-one as well as motivate students to become experts. We all know that when a student can teach a skill to another student, they truly understand the material at a deeper level. Talk about student achievement!

Now, I am sure that we have done other things that would qualify as “blended learning” such as creating video announcements, email messages, read alouds, etc. Blended learning is all about increasing student engagement and letting students know that you love them, letting students know that they are heard and valued. Trying to think of everything that takes place in my classroom that would classify as “blended learning” is like naming all of my daily blessings. Many of these things happen naturally in my classroom and it often times requires an outsider to identify these things.

Keep truckin’ friends! You are doing exceptional!

This is probably one of my favorite things as a teacher. Collaborating with others in the profession. I thrive off of learning from those in the profession. There are many negative connotations about PD in the teaching world, but personally, I feel that the BEST PD is the PD that is spent by simply talking with other educators about what works in their classroom, what they have implemented in their classroom, management strategies, the list goes on and on.

This year, I had the blessing to have PD that covered Blended Learning. I went into this PD thinking: I already know so much about Blended Learning, what more is there? This PD required a few days out of my classroom to visit with other teachers about Blended Learning strategies and techniques. I was so excited I could bust!

Then, because of COVID, this turned into a virtual PD opportunity. To say I was bummed is an understatement. While the content was great, and the interaction with the presenter was phenomenal, I missed the collaborating part.

THEN…. my colleagues were able to attend the face to face PD during second semester. Now, not only do I get to steal their ideas, but they are also bringing ideas that was discussed in THEIR PD session. I call that a win!

One thing that we have talked a lot about is incorporating technology into the classroom in an engaging way. We all know that technology isn’t as engaging as it use to be. We use our devices so much on a daily basis, it has become less engaging.

Did I mention that I work with some AMAZING INNOVATIVE people?! Simply installing an Echo Dot in the classroom has opened up a plethora of possibilities! Recording instructional videos to free up myself to work more one-one with struggling students-not to mention differentiation- has made time management easier. Sending video messages in lieu of emails to students helps to personalize these messages and build relationships with students. There are so many possibilities!

Coming up next, I will work with colleagues on the next post on things we have implemented within the classroom that others may find helpful. It is all about collaborating and stealing ideas from each other, right?

August 5 was such a long time ago! It feels as if an entire lifetime has past! Honestly, I have forgotten about this place that I started a year ago to simply share what is on my mind. After talking to colleagues today, we discussed posting some PD thoughts/ device implementing. So I figured, I could update before 😉

Last year, I did not see April with my students. To be in the classroom ALL YEAR has been simply amazing. We started the year full in-person classes 5 days a week. By October, we switched to a hybrid model where half of the students were in-person on Monday and Thursday, the other half on Tuesday and Friday, with full virtual classes on Wednesdays. This was crazy to start, but I began to love Wednesdays. On these days, I was able to see student faces without masks, I was able to get to know students on a personal level, and boy was I able to get in some PD time and plan time with my colleagues! Semester 2 we opened the school back to in-person 5 days a week. This was like the beginning of the year all over. Chaos, but I loved every minute of it.

The group of students I have been blessed with this year are like no other that I have had in my 10 years of teaching. These young individuals are innocent and naive. They are able to joke and have fun all while being serious about their academics. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do have a few stinkers in class that has the potential to spoil that batch, but overall I could not have asked for a better group. Maybe quarantine did something. Maybe not. I will never know, and I am OK with that.

Things in the world are starting to open back up. This makes me nervous a bit. While I am all for getting lives back to normal, I am afraid we may be acting too quickly. But, at the same time, people are no longer taking the mask wearing and the social distancing seriously anyways, so…. there’s that.

It has been several weeks since my last post. Many, many, MANY things have happened since my post in April. School finished virtually. I did not teach summer school for the first time ever, I am finishing my masters degree next week (YAY), I have had heartache.

This year seems to be going on forever. One thing after another keeps crashing down like a bunch of dominoes lined in a row. I never would have dreamed that I would say goodbye to my students for the summer in March. I would never have dreamed to not be knocking down the doors at school to work in my classroom to get it ready for the fall semester. But…welcome to 2020 where anything is possible and everything that can happen will.

I am very hesitant to go and work in my classroom. I moved rooms for this year, so I have lots of boxes to unpack. I have great ideas for bulletin boards. But I have zero energy to set up. My gut is telling me it will be a waste of time. My district has set up a hybrid model for the fall semester where students and parents chose to attend first semester virtually or in person. While this is a great idea, this also creates challenges. We now have so many students signed up for the virtual academy, we have to pull teachers to teach virtually and not in person. This was left up for teachers to apply for. Unfortunately, not many teachers applied. This leaves the district no choice except to place you as a virtual teacher with the chance to not return to your home building second semester or even next year. This thought terrifies me. I already have a relationship with my staff. I would not be happy if I were moved and not given the opportunity to return to my building with my people.

Another item weighing on me with this whole virtual idea is not knowing which students have signed up yet. That has not been made teacher knowledge as of yet. It is all of the unknowns that makes me hesitant for this new school year. This is also the first year where I will just have 2 preps. But because I am certified for all areas for the 6th grade level, I could be forced to have more preps, or even teach classes that I have not taught for a few years. Over the extended Spring Break, my teaching partners and I created many activities for our students as well as created unit plans. What if that was all a waste?

And let’s not forget my personal life for a moment. My family recently flooded. Some of their homes had 18inches of water inside, where others just flooded the basement. LOTS of mud everywhere and it Will. Not. Stop. Raining. So because of this my 80 year old grandmother has moved in with me temporarily. She has been here for almost 3 weeks. I love my grandmother with all of my heart. I look up to her and cherish her more than she will ever know. But her words are hurtful and I am having a difficult time walking a thin line in my own home. Living with my grandmother I think is the hardest thing I have ever done. I worry that she has the onset of dementia as her memory is lacking and she has started taking things the wrong way. Someone can say something and she will twist it around and she can be so hateful and hurtful in an instant. I don’t know how much more I can take without blowing up on her, and that is the last thing I want to do. Lots of conversations with the Lord tonight thats for sure.

On a brighter note, only 9 more days and I will be finished with my masters course! Only 26 more days until I see most of my students again! Only 13 days until I am reunited with my colleagues (most of them hopefully)!

Around 3:00pm, the governor of Missouri announced that all public and charter schools will remain closed for the rest of the semester. While I knew that this would happen, I am still devastated. This is not how this year was supposed to end. It has been 28 days since I last saw my students. 28 days of hugs, of high fives, of love yous. 28 days. While I know that this is the best option in order to keep my students safe and healthy, I also know it is not the best option for many of them. Many of my students do no have the home life that I have. Many of my students do not have reliable food or resources. Many of my students are now prone to abuse or being forced to grow up faster than they already are. It is not fair. It is not fair for those students who look at school as a safe place. It is not fair for those students who rely on school because that is the place they can still be kids. teenagers.

I also cannot help but think of my very first class. My first group of 4th graders. They were set to graduate this year. Not only was Prom stolen by this pandemic, but now Graduation. For most, this is the only graduation they will ever have. My heart aches for these students. My heart aches for their parents. My heart aches for each of their teachers who cannot stand up and show them how proud they are. How proud I am.

Today also marks 23 years since the adoption process started with my brother and I. One of the greatest days in my life. A teacher friend “egged” my house for my nieces. What a wonderful act of kindness! I miss my teacher friends too.

Today just seems to be a dream. I keep hoping that I will wake up and we all will be back in school. Back in room 12. It has definitely been a whirlwind of emotions today.

Today I ventured out in public for the first time in a week and a half. I was running out of creative ways to cook with odds and ends in the pantry and figured I needed to stock up on some things. I arrived at the store as they opened and other people had the same idea I had and the store filled up rather quickly. I spoke with a really nice elderly man today. That was nice considering it was the only other adult I have spoken to in person other than my parents and siblings.

We received notice yesterday that school would remain closed through April 24th. Unfortunately, I think that my district is just delaying the inevitable. I hate to say that, but we have already been cheated this year. Dangling hope in front of us that we will return is not appreciated. While I hate the process, I would like to just go in and pack up my classroom. It would make cleaning the building that much easier for our custodians.

Week 1 of distance learning is down in the history books. I successfully hosted a zoom meeting with students each day at the same time and had a few students excited to join. Seeing their faces made my heart both happy and sad. Happy to see them, as they are my children and my normal and I love them more than they would ever know. Sad as to I know deep in my heart that we will not be together again, and I will not see them in person until August.

I miss my teaching partners, even though we text all day long and meet virtually for lunch every day. It isn’t the same. I miss other staff that I see on a daily basis. I miss the friendly smiles in the hallways, the morning huddles, and dare I say I miss morning and afternoon duty!

Most of all I miss my kids. I miss the crazy stories that they tell. I miss the hugs, the high-fives, the special handshakes that we created just for us. I miss saying “Hello Beautiful People!” I miss our inside jokes, they eye-rolls from students, and yes, even the TikTok dances. I miss seeing them interact with each other. I miss seeing their faces when they learn something new. I miss my kids.

Growing up in the 90s I was a huge fan of Boy Meets World on Disney. I was oh-so-excited when I purchased Disney plus to find that the entire series was included. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. To say Mr. Feeny was a role model is silly, but true. I wanted to have relationships with my students the way Mr. Feeny had with Corey, Shawn, and Topanga (even Eric!). I have strived for that as a teacher. In the series finale, Mr. Feeny ends in his original classroom standing in front of empty desks and announces “I love you all. Class dismissed.” While I told my students this before we left for spring break just 2 weeks ago, and I tell them that when we sign off of our zoom meetings, I find today that I feel like Mr. Feeny when he said good bye to his students for the last time. While I know I will see them again in person, it seems like it will be so far into the future.

I hope they all know that I love and miss them terribly. I hope they all know that I pray for them each day and I hope that through this experience we all grow to appreciate the little things in life, no matter how annoying (TikTok lol)

Today marks day 2 of the city being under shelter in place and day 3 of digital learning with my 6th graders. Shelter in place isn’t really an issue at this point. I don’t make it a habit to be out and about during the week. Come Saturday I may have a different view point.

So far with distance learning, I have successfully created, hosted, and joined several Zoom meetings. My meetings with my students have be awful awkward. It is so good to see them don’t get me wrong. These are the people that I spend my entire day with. But after a few minutes of a check in basis, it starts to get awkward. Especially when it is just one or two students. Any advice on how to make this less awkward is gladly accepted. I am going to try a jeopardy game today. So we will see how that goes.

Yesterday, I went to school to get some things from my classroom that I will need to teach from home (my rocket book, pens, teacher manuals, etc). I also sat with some of my teaching partners and created a plan for our kids. I was reminded how terrible this situation is. Yes, the virus is a big deal. Don’t get me wrong. The fact that I will not see my students breaks my heart.

I brought home some new novels that my students and I have briefly talked about in class. I plan on reading some of the novels for my students. It’s definitely not the same, but it will have to do. Something will have to happen. I am not sure I can go this long without seeing my students. Feeling super sad today…..

Today marks day 4 of spring break. Yesterday, I received the call that the district will not resume classes until April 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That is an extra week off. While having time at home to work on my masters courses, I must admit this closing has me scared. I am afraid for my children. All 108 of them. Many of whom look forward to school as that is their safe place. Many of whom I look forward to seeing as they are MY safe place. We are in uncharted waters. My students, my parents and families, and myself. Distance teaching? A whole new concept. Yes, we use chrome books and digital learning on a daily basis. But that does not replace what we do on a daily basis. School in today’s world is so much more than academics. It’s relationship building. It’s character building. It’s an extended family. Those things cannot be completed through digital teaching.

Yesterday, the state of Kansas cancelled all in-person classes for the remainder of the school year. While that does not directly affect me, it makes me worried about the state of Missouri. Will we follow suit? Will we not? What does all of this mean?

In times of such uncertainty, we must join together. Distancing needs to be a close affair. We need to connect with one another now more than ever. I have made the mistake of being on social media over this time. I say mistake because there is so much negativity. Within my community we have many students who depends on school for meals. In a time where we should be supporting each other, there are community members complaining about the schools providing meals for these children while school has been cancelled! Stating that it is up to the parents to make sure that children are fed. While that is a valid point, it is not the child’s fault! Why are people so hateful to children who need help? This is perhaps something that I will never understand. In a time that is so uncertain, a time where the world is changing by the hour, how can full grown adults be so hateful?!

So, for the rest of my spring break, I am snuggling with my nieces. To let them know that they are loved and cared for. I will also be sending out videos to my students to let them know that they are loved and cared for and how much I miss them. I will encourage them to continue our kindness challenges as well as challenge them to learn something new at home. Maybe a new recipe. Maybe how to do laundry. Maybe how to wax floors? (That’s what my nieces will learn ;))

I can only hope that through these uncharted waters, some good will come. To quote Jackie DeShannon: “What the world needs now is Love.” Would you all pray for that?

This week, I asked a colleague to contribute to the dialogue as a first year teacher. Her experience is as follows!

A Day in the Life of a First Year Middle School Teacher

Today was the first day back after Thanksgiving Break and it went surprisingly well. Today was also the day that I realized I am officially three weeks away from being halfway through my first year of teaching. These last three months have been wild. I have experienced such a wide range of emotions! I’ve grown so much as a person and as an educator.

I was actually pretty productive today. I cleaned my classroom up, which was way overdue. The system I had going for organization was not working at all, but I had no idea how to make it more efficient. I started by sorting through the piles of paper on my desk—which I already do every day, but, man, do those papers accumulate quickly. Then I made a to-do list of the other things I needed to get done, which included going through the turn-in bins, cleaning behind my desk, rearranging some things on shelves, and ended with me coming up with new procedures to make sure the room stays clean and organized.

My biggest struggle this year has been classroom management. I never imagined myself becoming a middle school teacher, 2^nd-4^th grade kids are more up my alley. Quite frankly, any child over the age of 10 scared me before I started this job. So, as you can imagine, a lot of the things I learned about classroom management in college didn’t necessarily apply to the age group I’m currently working with. The strategies I was taught to use are often met with arguments and sass from my kids. It seemed like every time I found something that worked, it would stop working after about a week.

Another area I have struggled in is building relationships. This is always something I’ve been pretty good at, but only seeing these kids for about an hour and a half each day (most of which is filled with instruction) makes building those solid relationships difficult. When I asked for advice on how to get my classroom management down, I was told that relationships are key. So that’s what I’ve been working on and I am pleased to say that not only do I know my kids way better, but they are actually LISTENING to me.

I came to the realization that I had made it with my kids today when I said to them, “Look. You are almost halfway through your first year of middle school. I am going to start expecting you to act like middle school students.” Then I explained the new procedures about keeping themselves organized and keeping the room cleaned. While I was saying all of this, they paid attention to me and were excited about taking more initiative in their own education. I guess the advice I got about building relationships rings true—show the kids that you love them, and you will earn their respect.  

I have learned many new things this year, not all of them are directly related to teaching, but they have helped keep me sane. First, I’ve learned the importance of making friends. I would not be in the place that I am now if I had not met new people. I was invited to a Friendsgiving with some people from work and it made me realize that I have a support system in this school, which is the best feeling, especially when you are struggling as much as I was. Second, someone told me during my new teacher orientation that, as a first-year teacher, you should either come to school early or stay after school, but NOT both. BEST. ADVICE. EVER. I have since realized that I get more work done before school, which is not what I would have thought at all, seeing as that I am not a morning person. Finally, I have learned the importance of taking time for myself and doing the things I love to do. This point is being driven home as I’m writing this post while on break at orchestra rehearsal—which is at the middle school I attended—and am about to go to my best friend’s house to watch an episode of our favorite show!

I also requested a student perspective! So here is her response!

Middle School Life-HC

So, basicly hears how it is, middle school is like a sea of fish, because in the mornings the busses arrive at the school. Then, the busses unload with a crowd of people trying to fit into the doors either getting breakfist or going to the jim. Theres also other people rushing to line up at the red zone doors to buy junk food. You know, elementary was never this crowded, anyway i’m getting sitracked, back to the point, in the morning when your dismissed from Jim, theres so many peeps in the halway its unreal. If your not carful and not paying attention youll 1: get nocked over 2: nock over somone else, then after dismissal you go to class, long boring classes. 50 minutes each. You try staying still and listening to someone talk smartypants on you. For 50 minutes strait. The only good thing about school is the food, lunchtime has all of my favorite things, but be careful not to be a ring barrier and tell others wat you hear. Not only is it bad for your reputation but you get a hole bunch of other drama started! Then comes the end of the day. Thats my favorite part of the day going home, but then it starts all over! Again and again and again until high school, but thats a whole other paper to write!!!

It’s real friends! Have a great week!

My students had the opportunity this week to visit with a nonprofit organization at their facility. For this experience, I placed students in groups based upon their interests. Once at the facility, students worked together within their group to make a decision and create a solution for a given problem.

The groups that students were organized into were known as communities. So each “community” had their own issue that was presented by “city council” (members from our own community). These issues were anywhere from: should we place an age limit on energy drinks, what should we do as a community to help the growing vaping epidemic, to creating a digital footprint and cyber bullying.

For middle school students, these topics were very near to their heart. The topic that really made my students stop in their tracks was the idea of a digital footprint. Growing up in the 90’s and the early 2000’s, the idea of a digital footprint has come second nature. I have always been conscience of what I have researched and posted. Even in the days of MySpace! My students, however, have been told that items can be found, but I do not believe that they really understood the idea and the lasting effect of posts, snaps, and searches until this day.

This group in particular was given the task from the council to look into an app that would be mandatory for parents to place on their child’s phone to track the child’s digital footprint. This would allow parents to be aware of searches and posts that are made to help the child’s online presence to be more positive.

While students were not in favor of the app, they were very curious about this topic. Students became concerned that colleges and future employers can track searches, posts, and snaps. They began to research ways to prevent these searches. While “going incognito” was an option, students decided that the best option was to be aware of your online presence.

This made me think about my own online presence and that of professionals. If we are to be role models for the next generation, not only do we need to be aware of our physical presence, but also our online presence. As teachers, we need to realize that we are in a profession that is so different than others. We are on the clock 24/7/365. We have to constantly be aware of our actions.

I have the opportunity to live in the district that I teach. I shop at the same grocery stores my students and parents shop. I eat at the same restaurants. There isn’t a weekend that goes by where I am not recognized as a teacher. And while that is such a great, wonderful feeling, it is also tough at times. To know that I am a professional 100% of the time and cannot “let my hair down and party with the girls” can be daunting. We all have days where after work we want to let loose and vent about a bad day. As professionals, we cannot do this in public and expect to NOT be called out on it. Someone is always watching and listening. Pictures will be taken and posted on social media. Cruel things will be said (especially if you are recognized and associated with a specific school-even wearing school colors!). We need to be aware of WHERE these venting sessions take place and HOW they take place.

We, as professionals, also need to be aware of items that we search. ESPECIALLY on district technology. There is nothing worse than looking up a video in front of students and there is an ad for Victoria’s Secret on. Or other inappropriate material. This is another reason to always preview content and really plan lessons.

To end this post on a short note, I want to share advice that I was given as a first year teacher. “Anything on social media can be put on the front page of the news paper. If you do not want that post/picture/content on the front page with your name attached, don’t put it on social media.” Always remember that as a teacher, you are always being watched. Make your actions something that you would want your own child to see and follow. My middle school students are beginning to figure this out, as adults, it is our responsibility to nurture students’ digital reputation and, really, our own as well.

Check out this video from commonsense.org that my students stumbled upon during their research that really made them reconsider their own digital presence! https://www.commonsense.org/education/videos/digital-footprint

What a first bog post title huh?! Let’s start a blog about teaching middle school and how it is so fun and every little obstacle you come across can be made into a happy little tree (thanks Bob Ross!). Then, the first post is about the worst day teaching in middle school. The day I wanted to quit my job. So the question is, WHY is this my first post? There are many answers to that. I could go with the easy answer and say “It is required for my grad class.” True story. I am starting this blog for my grad class on how to be a leader in the digital age. But that is an easy answer. True, but easy. I could tell you that I start this blog with this post because I want you to feel sorry for me and other middle school teachers alike. That would be selfish and a lie. The real reason simply because these days are the best days in my career. Crazy right? Yesterday I encountered the worst day in my 9 years of teaching. My previous experience was 7 years in elementary, and now 2 in middle school.

Yesterday was terrible. I was ready to pay a fine to break my contract and go work retail. I had enough of the rude, disrespectful, hateful, disruptive behaviors that I see every day. I was just done. Class hadn’t yet started and I had a student chasing another student across the room and throwing chairs in the process. That was only the beginning. From then on, I had 4 boys (each who sit in isolation from the rest of the students) who just were a constant disruption. Mouthing off, saying inappropriate things and unkind things to each other. The 18 other students in the classroom could not work with all of this disruption. They were appalled that these boys were behaving this way.

Meanwhile in the office…several other issues were taking place. Neither principal was able to remove these students from my classroom so I could teach. I didn’t have any help. Our on site officer had to leave to visit another building. I was alone. I was done. I was ready to grab my keys, go home, and not look back. I became a teacher to make a difference in someone’s life. I had failed. It is now time to go back to the drawing board. I’m tagging out.

Then… that little voice inside said, “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! YOU CANNOT LEAVE THESE 18 WONDERFUL HUMANS IN THIS ENVIRONMENT ALONE!” So, I took a deep breath, and sent them all away. I sent those 18 students who were trying so hard to follow expectations away. Those 18 students who are always respectful and helpful. I sent them to other teachers in the building. It was not fair for those students to be in an environment where there was so much negativity and unkind things happening. I sent them away.

That left me with 4 students in the classroom. Those same 4 students who were making me rethink my purpose in life. Finally, after what seemed like hours (really it was 15 minutes alone with these students) the calvary arrived. 2 of the 4 were removed. This helped exponentially. I then retrieved my 18 that I sent away and I was able to check in with them and their day of independent learning.

The bell rang.

A teacher friend told me she had my next hour so I could have a minute to myself to calm down and destress. I took her up on her offer. I closed my door and cried. I cried like I had never cried before. I felt like the worlds biggest failure. I had my pitty party. My kids came back in. Each one with a hug to offer. Each one with something to say that they knew would make me laugh. Each one knowing I had been beaten down, extending a hand to help me back up.

This is why I chose this as my first post. Middle school is tough. Middle school is challenging. But, they get it. I may have failed 4 students yesterday. I am sure I have failed more in my 9 years of teaching. When my worst day of teaching was over, and former and current students passed by my classroom to go home, each one stopped with a hug, an “I love you!”, or even a note that expressed their concern and “if no one told you today you look very pretty,” it was in this moment that I knew I had made a difference in someone’s life. I may have failed with 4 students yesterday, but I have made a difference for over 100. I call that a win.

So, why am I a middle school teacher? For that reason right there. Days are challenging. Days are rough. But the kids you make an impact on, those kids who you are there for when they are having a terrible day, they are there for you in you moments of weakness. The simple acts that my students showed me yesterday were not only kind gestures, but moment changers.

My goal with this blog, is to encourage fellow teachers (and those soon to be) to teach middle school. These humans are so fun to be with (even those stinkers that make you question your career path!)