Teacher Appreciation and a little story about me

I know that we all have been focused on teacher appreciation week this week. It is so easy to get caught up in the creating, making, assessing, paperwork, and disciplining that is is easy to forget the reason that we chose this profession. I know I go through my days in a fury and then I turn around and it's over. I wanted to share my story with you all and reflect a little bit on the wonderful people we call teachers!

I've always known I wanted to be a teacher, it just took me a little convincing first. In high school, I was in the Texas Association for Future Educators (TAFE) I was a TA at my old elementary school. I loved this job. LOVED it - I chose my absolute favorite elementary teacher to aide and learned a lot of tricks from her. Her class was so interactive and FUN, she had wonderful classroom management and I could not have learned any more from her!

I begun at Texas Tech majoring in Early Childhood Education - I liked it, but I really didn't feel challenged. I was "figuring out" what I wanted to do with my life. After a while, I changed my major to Interior Design for 2 years - fun, I could use my creative outlets, but after an internship I realized that sitting at a computer is just not for me. I ended up switching to Human Development and Family Studies because I thought I wanted to do social work (see, it's always been about the kids...) I had an internship with CASA; it was just too sad and I was really doing more paperwork and supervision than actually interacting with the kids. I graduated with that degree and decided I'd go back for my certification. I got married, had a baby, then went to school while working full time and being wife and mommy - now that is dedication!

I realized that this is what it's all about:

I've always enjoyed working with kids and I realized it takes the most selfless, patient people to work in this profession. It is truly a talent to manage a classroom, teach, laugh, and learn all at the same time. I work in a wonderful school where teachers supports each other in a wonderful district where the students come first. I am so lucky to have found a place where I do what I love and love what I do! I appreciate every one of you have made it this far in my blog - I know that you feel exactly the same way that I do.

I was contacted by Matthew over at Education Degree and he brought to my attention a compilation of inspiring, funny, and moving videos about teachers. You really should go check them out - I seriously cried through half of them - they really hit the heart. Click on "National Teacher Week Videos" to watch!

Now, on a side not, here are the cute little gifts I ended up making for Ella and Luke's teachers - just thought you might like a look - I got the glass blocks from Hobby Lobby (one of my teammates made me the same gift - totally borrowed from you, Robyn!!) They are filled with a strand of lights so that they light up like a little lamp.