My Second Home.

"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."

- Dr. Seuss

 Pencils have been sharpened. Crayons and markers replenished. Toys tucked in their place. Copies made and notebooks assembled. Furniture was arranged and re-arranged, and then arranged some more. All leading up to the first day of school and the seven little ones that walked through our classroom door. 

 This is the first blog post I have done about my actual physical classroom space... as I start my 4th year at Jackson, this set-up is probably my favorite. I have had time to figure out spacing issues, practiced my labeling skills and perfected placing some of my posters back in the same spot year after year. 

 While some people might dread their work space, my "office" is full of student masterpieces, colorful visuals, treasured toys, and comfy corners.  I am a nester by nature and my classroom is no different... it has quickly become my second home. 

And thanks to Pinterest, my classroom is even more organized, color-coded, and labeled in every way possible. 

 Teaching children with autism has its ups and downs. Its funny moments and its heart breaking moments. There are earth shattering break throughs... moments of total clarity. There are times when the world seems so simple and then others when the complexity of it all can be extremely frustrating. We have hours of organized chaos... comedy and humor in the most unlikely ways... and seven little ones that prove no matter our differences... 

"I like nonsense. It wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living. It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do and that enables you to laugh at life's realities."

- Dr. Seuss

A God Wink.

The last couple of weeks at work have been extremely difficult. I am continuing to learn how much I can take, what I will and won't stand for, and how to teach children despite craziness swirling around their classroom. I have learned quickly over the last year, that just when you think you are on the brink and you can't take anymore, God gives you one more push, one more situation or circumstance to make you fall back down to your knees either in gratitude or reaching back up to Him for help... all proving that He is still in control. This last week, I was blessed with a new student. On Tuesday morning, I did not see this addition as a blessing. I saw more paperwork and a scramble to figure out how to structure my class for 6 students, 2 paras, and 1 teacher. As the week wrapped up, I was reminded by one of my friends at work, how special this new little one was and finally saw him not as more paperwork, but as a blessing in disguise... a reminder of why I love teaching.... a reminder of how teaching can positively affect a child... 

a God wink. 

Top 10.

The last week has probably been one of the most stressful, emotional, and anxiety producing in my career so far. And it is just the beginning of a long couple of months.

*Background - I am a special education teacher. I teach a K-5 lower functioning autism class at an absolutely amazing school in Atlanta. This is my second year as an autism teacher... and with a year of unheard of firsts behind me, this year is proving to be just as challenging, but in completely different ways.*

So in an effort to boost my morale and remind myself of why I love my job... Here are the top 10 reasons for why...

1. Everyday is different. While our class schedule is pretty much the same Monday through Friday... the ongoings of my class are never the same. There are days when everyone cooperates; there are days when NO ONE cooperates. I never know what to expect from my kiddos prior to them walking in the doors, which keeps life more than interesting.

2. Everyday is a challenge. Not a moment goes by where I am not being challenged professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. I am constantly evaluating the best and most appropriate teaching theory/method/strategy/intervention for four distinctively different children. And on to reasons #3 and #4...

3. Everyday is a challenge... emotionally. My students have truly become a part of my life. I find joy in their accomplishments and progress. And have not yet figured out how to separate myself from the daily obstacles and struggles that these children and their families face on a daily basis. Which is not totally a bad thing - I feel that being connected to my work leads to further passion for my work. Elementary school can be extremely difficult as children are learning acceptance and understanding - these are two things that I fight for on a daily basis. 

4. Everyday is a challenge... spiritually. God doesn't give you characteristics, like patience, acceptance, perseverance; instead, He places you in situations and environments that force you to exercise the desired trait. In my life, God has most definitely placed me in an environment that teaches me patience, acceptance and perseverance on a daily basis. 

5. It's the little things. Finding joy in the simplest of things... like when one of my students makes eye contact with me and it is obvious he/she is letting someone else into their world for a split second; when I hear "Good morning Ms. Hamilton" from one of my students after practicing this phrase for 8 months; when I can sing Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA" with one of my students during recess; when I get a thank you from a difficult parent; when I get to witness bonds being formed. Life is full of little moments... my classroom is no exception.

6. Laughter is the best medicine. There are days that my kiddos are just hysterical. Taking a moment to laugh and live in that moment is priceless. (I am sure stories will make appearances in later posts.)

7. I love my school. I have been more than blessed to be teaching at the school that I do. We have two autism classes at my school (higher and lower functioning) that began last August. Prior to these classes, children with special needs have not really been prominent at this school. Now, faculty, staff, and the students are learning to accept those that might be a little different than they are. I love my school because of the support and acceptance that has been shown to my kids. 

8. Teacher friends. Summer vacation buddies. Phone calls at 3:00 pm. Venting sessions that involve "teacher language." Being a teacher means having teacher friends, which means having people in my life who understand the struggles and excitements that I experience in my classroom.

9. Summer vacation. Let's be honest, one of the best parts of being a teacher is having 2 months of summer vacation (and Spring Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, and the other mini breaks in between.) Hate to brag, but it never gets old. :)

10. Smiling faces. The final reason I love my job is the children that I have the privilege of working with 5 days out of the week. I only hope that I can make a fraction of the impact on their lives as they have had on mine.