It's all in a days work...

I love being a teacher. Especially to six year olds. Don't get me wrong, there are times when I ask myself  "What was I thinking?" I can say I hand picked the grade I wanted to teach every year. And it never crossed my mind to choose any other grade. Didn't seem fitting to think twice about it. Do I wish that I could JUST have-at-least-five-minutes-to-sit-at-my-desk-peacefully-without-any-disruptions? Absolutely. That when I walk by an upper grade classroom I'm not secretly jealous on the inside that the room is quiet and the teacher is at her desk grading papers? Always. That I wish I could hand them a worksheet without explaining every detail or going over it as a group and still getting confused looks on their face like I just handed out a paper written in jibber jabberish? Without a doubt. Do I wish they still took afternoon naps? The kind the teacher is allowed to extend upon discretion? Everyday. And that when I tell them that I am testing a student and not to come up to my desk unless they are bleeding or barfing and they come up to tell me that "yes it's an emergency" Sally is using marker and YOU said to use crayon, I don't want to sigh and throw my hands up in the air. Err, sometimes. :)
Do I always get gratification in knowing that they believe everything I say and they still get scared. Yup. Do I get annoyed that no matter what, or how much trouble they get in, they still love me and think of me as the coolest person on the planet? Not one bit. That they can easily detour any lesson if they ask me questions about my doggies and I will completely allow them to take control of the topic? Never. Or if they start to tear up or give me an excuse about why they threw their food away (because seriously, who likes veggies, they are blaah!) or stuck their tongue out at Billy because 'at least they didn't punch them in the face' I pretend it didn't happen? I admit, I'm a sucker. Too cute to punish. (Don't judge). When I reflect on these daily happenings, I wonder why I ever doubted it...

Today's chronicles of first grade ramblings: (Still on the lesson of families in Social Studies and talking about how times have changed between now and then)

"Well, use to they had to mail writings and letters and they had to ride in a wagon. But now, they can talk to their friends on Facebook! Ms. Hargrove are you on Facebook? You could be friends with my mom!"

"Nowadays, you can get a fast car and speed to your uncles house. Because used to, my uncle, he drooved (yes, drooved, the past tense version of drove??) really far all the way from San Frisco,  you know, where you live Ms. Hargrove, (I'm assuming she meant San Fransisco) and it would take like a billion minutes to get to us."

OH and how could I forget: After one of my precious little girls had to move her card to yellow I say "What's up with you today? and her reply with some eye batting:
"Oh man, all I can say is I'm having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day today"
Seriously? How can I be upset after that??

Ahh, to have the sweet, sweet, innocent minds of them :))

Would I rather trade my paycheck for a six figure salary?  Not a chance.

Other things I love on a daily basis:

XOXO