Wednesday, September 03, 2008

My first day back


Can I just say that I am EXHAUSTED!! Yesterday was just a teacher's day. We had a few "welcome back" meetings and a ton of things to do to get ready for the week. I put my pedometer in my pocket this morning and after 11 hours at school I saw that I had put in 10,000 steps today. No wonder my feet hurt!!!


In our school we have screening appointments for the children. Each child coming to kindergarten is mandated to be screened. The children are given these appointments and then come with their parents to have about a twenty minutes in the room getting to meet the teacher. We also share all the important information with the parents. By Friday I am always tongue tied and don't remember what I have said. I enjoy the time getting to meed the children and their families.


As we were sitting at our meetings this morning and given our yearly pep talk about how important we are to the children's lives we touch I remembered something that had happened.


About two years I was in the grocery store and ran into a girl that I had in kindergarten several years back (she was in the 10th or 11th grade). She told me that the year before she had to write a paper for her English class about her favorite teacher and she wrote it about me. I was so touched by that! Those little comments make everything you do each day worth while!!!


I see her often now that she is "grown" up and working in town. Just last week I called to order a pizza for lunch. After I placed the order the girl on the other line said, "Hi Mrs. King, it's me Sarah". I'm so surprised she recognizes my voice. I sure hope I have touched many lives over the years.


I also hope that you don't get bored with my school stories this year. They are such a big part of my life!


take care,

Dawn

11 comments:

Darlene said...

I bet you were exhausted...just trying to get back in the swing of things. I know how much teachers mean because besides the ones that made a great impression on me....we live in a small area so we constantly see Lexi's teachers or teachers she knows and Lexi always has to run up to them and get a big hug and say hi! She absolutely adores all the teachers she has had.

SmilingSally said...

One of the reasons you're so tired is the meetings that you must attend. There are so many important thing to tend to, and yet you must sit and listen to the same old, same old.

Sarah is a treasue, and it is because of that reaction we teach. Who needs a paycheck?

Anonymous said...

Of course you have positively impacted many lives - including mine. But, I wasn't in your kindergarten class. ;-) You are a treasured friend.

Good luck today. Make sure you get those parents on the "right" road.

Oh! I could see my way to making you a pie in exchange for cranberry bread.

Unknown said...

Hi Dawn,
I won't get bored cause I can so relate to what you are going through. I was really tired yesterday and questioning my sanity for taking this position. LOL

Oh well, it will get better...hard to go back after a weekend of doing much of nothing.

Stories like the one you told make it all worthwhile!
Have a great day,
Diane

Debi said...

I could NEVER get bored with your school stories! I absolutely love hearing them! I have NO doubt whatsoever that you've made a difference, a real difference, in hundreds of lives...and I don't think that's an exaggeration. You, Dawn, are the epitome of what it means to be a great teacher!

Kim's Treasures said...

I love your stories! You bring back memories of working in the elementary school! I was a substitute secretary and a teacher's assistant. The first few weeks just wear you out!

Have a great night!
Kim

Anonymous said...

How sweet! It's nice to know that you've made a difference in someone's life. Bob always loved teaching too!

Anonymous said...

Morning, Dawn. Poor poor little tootsies!! I certainly don't get bored with your stories. The world needs more teachers like you!
Be a sweetie,
Sheli ;)

Anonymous said...

Dawn, I'm back and feeling good. I just read your past two posts and realized again, something I already knew. You are a very special teacher. You put your heart and soul into your job. Most importantly, you truly care about your students. Am I surprised about Sarah's memory of you as a teacher? Not at all. There are lots of children out there who have memories of their favorite teacher. That would be you. Smile

Love, Jeanne

Kelli@SassySouthernMom said...

hey dawn,

I'm a nurse and can't relate too much to the teacher thing. However, knowing that there are teachers out there like you, makes all the difference to parents like me, who had my oldest start kindergarten this year. It's nice to know that you remember some of your past students. It gets me to thinking, who my favorite teacher was, and why...sounds like a great thing to blog about. thanks for sharing, kelli

Cottage Rose said...

OK Dawn; I want you to put you feet up and have a Iced Tea or Hot Tea. Sounds like you deserve it. What a sweet thing for Sarah to do, to write about you being her favorite teacher.


Hugs;
Alaura