Thankful...

As November marches on, I am reminded of how quickly the instructional year goes. In September, it seems like you're full of promise and great ideas. Your plans to reinvent your teaching and your classroom are shiny and new. Then, by the time November arrives...  you're faced with the truth. Another grading period has gone by, you're starting to feel overwhelmed again by the mountain of expectations from your administration, your students, their parents, and even your co-workers!

Try not to beat yourself up for not being that super teacher that you see in "Freedom Writers" and "Stand and Deliver." Take some time in this month of thankfulness to list out some successes you've experienced so far this year. Did you make a positive connection with a parent? How about with your Administration? Did you try a new hands-on approach that engaged your students? Have you successfully done more with your planning time at school or been better prepared for parent conferences?

An attitude of thankfulness starts with a positive mindset. Look for the good in people and search for moments of joy in your classroom. These are treasures to hold on to. As the year speeds up moving towards Christmas, remember to cherish the daily success and be thankful for the times that things go right. This week, I am thankful for the blessing of technology in my classroom. My students have been spending time this week on technology based projects and while these days invariable bring unexpected troubles, they also provide for great creativity and connections for my students.

Here's to your November! May it bring you refreshment for your teaching soul!

Cheerfully yours,
Ms. Guided