Today ended my 20th year of teaching. It's funny how some years are so bad, I cannot wait for the end of the year. I can hardly clean up my classroom, get my signatures, and leave tread marks in the parking lot on my way out.
This year was a good year, which makes its end bittersweet. Granted, I had a really rough class, and it was a relief to finish with them on Tuesday. I had to learn new curriculum and new assessments, but upon reflection, I enjoyed doing so. And I had to be compared repeatedly to our department 'guru' aka "Mr. Kurtz," but I lived. What really made it a good year, though, were my students, especially my AP Literature students.
Looking forward to each day our class met compensated for the more difficult classes. I was lucky to have a group innately curious and yet sponge-like. They absorbed-at least most-of what I taught them. They worked harder than I expected, and we had more laughs than I thought we would. I enjoyed the days we met and came home tired but jazzed from our discussions.
What makes a great school year, truly, are great students and colleagues as well as some supportive administrators. I was lucky to find a great partner for next year as well as a lunch buddy. I was able to laugh with more colleagues, joking more, and essentially enjoying our time together. I feel as though I smiled more this year. I was supported, mostly, by administrators when I needed it. As I walked to my car this morning, I was a bit sad to leave.
But as with all good things, this too, this year, has ended. I have time now to relax and ready myself for next year, a year I hope will be as enjoyable.
