My Home Away From Home

It is hard to believe I am already in my 3^rd quarter of teaching 3^rd grade. What an adventure this new season has been! I have blogged about these last 5 months in my head on multiple occasions, but taking the time to put those thoughts on paper has been a challenge. These last 5 months, my days have been long and exhausting and my weeks have been short and fulfilling. There are days I cry on my way home, certain that I am failing my kids and days when I leave school all but giddy, feeling like a “rock star teacher.” Teaching is a mental and emotional rollercoaster, my friends.

August 13, 2015

It is truly amazing how quickly I have come to love and delight in my kids. I adore these precious children and consider it such an honor to be their teacher. We have grown to be a family these last 5 months and it has brought my heart such joy. Just this past week, I told them what a proud “Momma” I was and one of the kids responded, “That’s weird.” No sooner had he said that, that one of my other kiddos said, “That’s not weird. We’re a family. But you would have had to have a lot of babies, Mrs. Mirante.” I consider these kiddos my own and have found such joy in watching them become boys and girls of character.

I laughed this past week at the realization that I am a homebody even at school. My happy place is in my room with my kids. In my classroom, we work hard, we learn, we respect one another, we practice kindness, we offer grace, we laugh, we encourage, and we dance…a lot. Dancing has become “our thing” when we need a quick break to get our wiggles and giggles out. Our current theme song is “Power” by Justin Bieber. Don’t judge me…I teach 8 and 9 year olds.

In these last 5 months, teaching has refined me in unexpected ways. I am a better person because of the 18 little ones that call me Mrs. Mirante. Here are just a few of the lessons I have learned…

• The whole “First Year Teacher Sickness Thing” is for real. I say that laying on the couch with literally no voice and my 3^rd sinus infection in the last 2 months.
• Skittles are serious bargaining chips.
• Ice packs and Band-Aids heal any and all ailment.
• Choose your battles.
• It’s okay to stop mid-lesson and change course.
• You don't have to be a "Pinterest" teacher to be a good teacher.
• Every child has a story.
• Practice kindness.
• Take time to get to know your kids – we have Circle Time each day and all of us look forward to sharing and getting to know each other during this time.
• Teaching is one big experiment that is always evolving.
• I thought I was patient when I started. I was not. I’m growing in this area.
• Work smarter, not harder.
• Leave your work at school. For teachers, this takes serious discipline! I often work up at school until 5:30 or 6:00 to get my work done, but when I leave, I'm finished for the night.
• Celebrate your kids at any and all opportunities.
• Laugh with your kids.
• Classroom jobs for everyone gives your students a sense of ownership.
• Get down on their level.
• I LOVE Children's Books. I already knew this, but it has been confirmed. 
• I have had to give up some of my OCD tendencies when it comes to my classroom. 
• Play with your kids at recess.
• Brag on your kiddos.
• Eating lunch in the classroom with your kids is a serious treat. They think it is awesome!
• Worksheets are overrated. Find ways to supplement them with interactive activities.
• Communicate with parents – you cannot over-communicate.
• You get serious mercy points from your kids when you’re sick – milk it for all it’s worth :)
• Explain why there are consequences to certain actions.
• Offer grace.
• Bathroom breaks are all but nonexistent. TMI- My bladder has officially been “trained.”
• Teaching is one of the most humbling jobs. For better or worse, you always have an audience.
• Take time to listen to the stories your kids have to tell you.
• One of my most used lines, “Give me grace, I’m not perfect.”
• The line between absolute chaos and controlled chaos is very thin.
• Somedays my kids drive me crazy. Ha! #transparency 
• Disney Instrumental Music is our jam! We listen to this throughout most of the day as we work.
• Ask questions.
• Respect your kids and they will respect you.
• Storyline Online is a saving grace sometimes...sometimes you just need 5 minutes to take a breath.
• Teaching is expensive.
• For better or worse, I am the only 3rd grade teacher these kids are going to get. No pressure!
• Planning time is so nice. I love my kids so much, but having 50 minutes of calm and quiet does the soul good.
• More days than not, you will feel like you are failing your kids. Keep showing up...even if you have to cry all the way to school.
• Find small wins every day.

As I start this second half of the school year, I am praying expectantly, trusting that God will use me in a mighty way to love and lead my kids. Thank you, Jesus for the opportunity to teach your children.