Saturday, August 15, 2009

Mixed Emotions, Yes. But I'm a Teacher at Heart.

This is it, the final weekend before I have to go back to work. Every year I have mixed emotions about ending summer break and beginning another new school year. I love what I do, but I also love what I DON'T do.

I love summer because...

* I have the freedom of being able to choose what I want to do each and every day; do Iwant to work outside in the yard, surf the net for cool stuff, be a couch potato and watch HGTV all day, shop 'til I drop, or do something domestic like bake bread like a Sally Homemaker today?

* My life isn't ruled by the clock...especially the ever-dreaded alarm clock.

* I have option of fixing a sandwich at home or meeting the love of my life for lunch in town.

* Work-related stress is non-existent during the long summer days.

The relaxation that comes with summer becomes a welcome addiction that is hard to give up.

On the other hand, I love what I do during the school year. After all, I am a teacher at heart. Teaching is my God-given gift. It's what I do. And it's what I do well. So why do I love going back?

I love going back to school because...

* The excitement of my students at the beginning of the year is contagious.

* The beginning of a school year gives me (and my students) a chance to make a clean start.

* It is satisfying and highly rewarding to see the "light bulbs" go on when my students suddenly grasp a concept they'd been struggling with just minutes earlier.

* I just plain love kids (middle schoolers at that! I know, I'm weird.)

* It is fun to teach what I know, and even more fun to learn what THEY know!

* I make a difference.

I could go on and on with why I love what I do, but time is short, and I must finish the things on my "To Do List" that were put off because summer fun was calling. In three days I'll be back at my school desk, dreaming up ways to make learning fun and relevant for my students. I'll be back at my desk writing curriculum, creating lesson plans, and drawing up battle plans for a successful year as an educator. But most importantly, I'll be preparing to interact with students eager to learn.

So, Yes! I have mixed emotions about going back, but I'm ready. After all, I'm a teacher at heart. Teaching is what I do.
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