year two

SUMMER IS HERE!!
It seriously doesn't feel like it.
It's been an insane year.
It doesn't feel like 1 year ago that I wrote this post.
My post today won't be quite as mushy and special as that one.
First of all, it isn't my first year so I am not as sentimental.
Second of all, I am going to be teaching these same kids again next year since I'm moving to 9th grade.
So I don't even have to miss them!
Mostly I feel strange. It doesn't feel like it's over.
This year changed my life.
But I have done enough talking about that lately, I will just end with pictures.

The last few days of school get so crazy, I think us teachers lose our minds.
Here's some pictures to show you what those days looked like this year.

I start getting a lot of notes and letters from my kids. Some sweet. Some confusing. Sometimes they just leave pictures of themselves in onesies on my desk.

Classes start to get weird. Sometimes we make ice cream in zip lock bags.

 Sometimes we sit and do absolutely nothing.

 Things like this are happening and I can't explain it, but this was actually an educational activity. I know that's hard to believe.

 We read outside just to get some sunshine.

And then, things like this happen. Last day of school. Magic tournament. Someone playing "mood music" on the cello. This was one of the greatest moments of my life.

Teachers have rolly-chair-races down the hallways after the kids leave.

We do textbook inventory that turns into seeing how many encyclopedias we can stack.

 Moody cooks us hamburgers

Kimese does cartwheels. Beautiful, beautiful cartwheels.

Students spend their time doing things like this.

 When a bunch of teachers go out to lunch, we catch our students ditching. And they dance for us.

 

Kimese and I lose our voices cheering at the student vs. teacher softball game.

 I say goodbye to my kids from last year who will be going on to 10th grade and a new school.

 A word about this guy. He's the only one of my old students who showed up on the last day of school so he's the only one who I forced to take a picture with me, but it's good because he has a very special place in my heart. I had this guy last year and this year because he requested to be in one of my classes. He is a hard one. A boy who tries to be tough to everyone but I know who he is on the inside. He's a big softie and I love him with my whole heart. He has made so many good changes and faced so many challenges. And he has promised me that he will not drop out of high school. Unless he has a rap recording deal from Dr. Dre. We even shook on it. I love this boy like he was my own child, even though he's taller than me. I am going to miss him so much.

 

 My team and I take family pictures. I'd be lost without these three individuals. They are some of my very best friends and lifesavers. Since I decided to move to 9th grade next year, I won't get to teach with them :( BUT, we will still be just a few hallways apart, and our love can continue.

Shout out to the duck face aka how all our female students pose.

 We call this pose "Trevor just opened up a liter of orange soda and it exploded all over him."

 It's been another successful year. A hard year. A crazy year. But a great year. My job has been a saving grace. My students, my coworkers, and my purpose here have helped heal my heart. Here's to a happy summer!