It's not over...Until the fat lady sings!!

I will be honest and say that teaching can be quite burdensome for me with all this data stuff (I don't think I'm the only one). After returning this January from such an exciting break (I AM ENGAGED!!), I have cried once a week in relation to how I feel about my job. I love teaching, and interacting with my kids. We have amazing rapport and the improvement in behaviour is astounding! Really. I mean it. But at the same time, it takes everything in me to keep it together sometimes. It's a heavy LOAD.

I have a very difficult assignment...and it's hard to focus on the positives sometimes.

But today, a beautiful, bright springlike day...Hope has sprung! My kids and I did a side by side comparison of tests they took in October to one they took recently. What did we see?

Progress, my friends. Progress. It's like water when you're parched. A cool breeze when you're hot. Fresh air after a stink. PROGRESS!!

I stood in front of my class and gave a speech:

I want you to look at what you have accomplished. I want you to see that you are MORE than capable of reaching the goals we have set together. I want you to know that I. AM. SOOOO. PROUD! Like, I can't even tell you HOW PROUD I am of EVERY SINGLE PERSON in my class! (Insert a pause, run for a Kleenex, Laugh some happy tears out of my eyes. Come back and finish with...) The growth I have seen in you so far is incredible! We have learned so much! Let's keep pushing!! YOU will improve. YOU have improved and I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!! (insert happy dance)

My kids cheered! They CHEERED! And some of them were tearing up with me!! It was a RUDY moment. I love having RUDY moments. I know they aren't every day, but I have to remember...RUDY moments EXIST. They do happen!!

 And I have to remember that it's not over yet...And I need to remember this promise:

"I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." - Jesus

Happy Weekend.
The End.