Surviving My First Official Day!

Yes! I did it! I have made it through the first day that I really know that I am retired-a clerical day. Yes, I did awaken without an alarm before 5:00 AM. Old habits are hard to break. Actually, I, like most other elementary teachers, have put in many more "clerical" days than we have ever been paid to do. That's just the way it is with elementary teachers! ;-) Elementary teachers spend many more days and hours and money on their rooms than teachers at other levels. All of my years have never proved that wrong. We spend our time away from the classroom planning ways to make our classroom the best that we can offer to our students. The room arrangement…finding just the right books to put out for the first day…putting names on everything…making sure that the birthday pencils and stickers are ready! And as someone once said, elementary teachers teach students, not subjects. Our love of teaching encompasses not only our curriculum and standards but the more important part of educating the whole child. And often that teaching occurs as a child tells you about a softball game the night before or the new baby sister or the tooth that is not quite ready to come out but will be the center of attention until it does. Those moments are as important in the life of a child as the many hours of instruction. Those are the moments that I will be missing…a lot! :)  But, as for today, the “rare” Clerical Day and tomorrow, the "not so rare" In Service Day, I will not be missing those.



For my friends who continue to touch the lives of children on a daily basis, I wish you the most wonderful and satisfying year. You will find that they pass by quicker than you can ever imagine! But they will make a difference in your life and in the lives of so many children-some differences you may come to know and others that you never know. But never forget that if you love teaching, you are doing the job that you were called to do. Never doubt it. Enjoy!

And for those, like myself, who are now among the "retired", there is no such thing as a retired teacher.  That's only a term some people use.  We are teachers.  We always have been and always will be.  For when you are called to do something, the call is forever.  And I, like you, am forever grateful to have been called!