I began slowly pacing around the classroom, looking at each desk, praying over each desk, and then the tears began fall one by one. It was only 7:30am. I wouldn’t see my students for another two hours, but I was already weeping that we were about to spend our final day together.
This school year was special. It was my 10th year of teaching and I was back in 3rd grade for the first time since my first year of teaching. To top it off, I was given an especially respectful and polite class. They were a class that every teacher dreams of looping with, something I have yet to do in my career.
Seventeen go-getting students that I was proud everyday they walked into my classroom. It was rare that I’d ever have to remind them twice any expectation on daily basic. It was so rare that they’d have an “off day” that that I can’t remember a single time were I was disappointed in them.
They were a creative class. So I put their artistic side to work in writing and drawing for the school to see monthly. Their artwork hung from our ceiling and walls too. When they decorated my suit, they didn’t just scribble as most kids (and teachers) do, they drew actual illustrations from the memories they made. Yet… I wish I would’ve done more.
They were class that loved to gamify. Although the boys were (loudly) more competitive than the girls, both sides knew when a Gimkit or Blooket came on the screen, it was every boy and girl from themselves. They’d even At one point, they had formed groups to battle against each other and then the cries from the victims, so I explained the beauty in winning by individual effort, and not group. To my surprise, the boys agreed it was time to dismantle alliances and thus the intensity and fun improved; especially when Mr. Potrzeba joined the game. Yet… I wish I would’ve done more.
They were a class that read. Every year I show how reading changed my life. I start reading to them from day one and rarely miss a day. Most importantly, I encourage and talk to them about reading. I also make it the expectation that any moment of transition or think time, sneak in reading! Although most transitions and wait times last less than a minute, that’s enough time to read a page or two from a book. This class understood that and took advantage of every second. Yet… I wish I would’ve done more.
This class was hardworking. I could give them any task and they’d never complained. Sometimes I felt bad, and yet their reaction was always the same: tell them the expectations, where to turn it in, what the next task was, and if reading a book is one of the options. In April we did endless reviews and Stack Performance Matters tests, and they did them all without a single complaint. Come May, they were ready and scored the highest I’ve seen a class do in my career. 100% of the class was proficient in math and 94% proficient in reading. Yet… I wish I would’ve done more.
This class was special. This year was special. I did somethings I’ve never done with a class. I also did some major throwbacks in honor of some memories throughout my ten years. But there’s also some things I wish I would’ve done. This class didn’t get to experience all the things they deserved. That’s haunting me. I gave them my all and they gave me their all. It was a great year! Yet… I wish I would’ve done.
