Grace.

As I embarked on my final year of teaching, I accidentally started a daily post. It began with my first ever selfie taken on my first contract day of my last official year as an employee of the Middleton Cross Plains School District. Day 190.  Reminders, memories, moments, lessons, and sometimes just a snippet. Occasionally, I will share a timely gem. This one? A necessary reminder for all those embarking on another school year.

Grace.  We must give it.  More importantly, we must practice it. The beginning of a school year is hard.  It is exhausting.  It does not matter how many starts we have had, each year is a brutal reminder of how laborious it is to establish your learning community.  Not every routine needs to be established, not every expectation set, and not every friend who might need some additional support comes with magic beans.  We set the tone, we are the magic. 

That week I had received a request from a fellow colleague. Could I come observe one of my former students who had just started Kindergarten? Of course. I made a point to share with families and with receiving schools that my time with their child, their incoming student did not end when they went on to Kindergarten. I assured all that if needed, I would be available. Transitions were hard. Moving from a half day to a full day is hard. Moving from building to building is hard. Building trust, building new relationships is hard. This particular student was not without challenges. Navigating his new learning space only escalated some of his behaviors. His case manager was a new teacher. He was patient, he was eager, and he was self assured enough to ask for assistance, to take me up on my offer. So I hung out with my friend that morning. The new teacher observed how we interacted, how I redirected, when to ignore, when not to, the language I used, prompts given. The student? A familiar face was welcome. We quickly, easily fell into a rhythm. A rhythm it took the better part of my year to establish (another good reminder). Later, when I returned to my own space, I realized we could all use a reminder about grace. Giving grace. Receiving grace. So I sent him an email, thanking him for inviting me to observe, to engage, to collaborate. I noted his strengths, I noted he was on track with building a relationship with my friend, but more importantly I ended with “give yourself some grace. It is only day 4.” A reminder from me to you. Give yourself some grace.