This week, I feel like I’m finally hitting my stride in my new role.  I’m wrapping up enough of the old units and getting a better grip on the new units I’ll be starting in all subjects.  My webinar wrapped up Sunday night and I was SO very grateful for such attentive and interactive participants, not to mention a rockstar moderator and absolutely amazing team of individuals who are responsible for putting the whole conference together.

For the past two mornings, I have slept in…until 5:30!  I’m reminded that the work will never be completely done, and that I will likely be bringing home a gigantic bag full of textbook Teacher Editions and a To-Do list that only seems get longer and more complex for the rest of my career.  That said, there are days when the half-scored basket of journals will have to wait another day because the weather is warm and my kids need me to be just “mom” for a few evening hours.  My beautiful, color-coded lesson plans that are derailed after a day because crayfish and beetles arrive sooner than anticipated – I’m learning to roll with it.  To embrace the unpredictability and think of it as adventure.

I’m tired, in a fantastic, it-means-I’m-using-new-muscles kind of way.  Things are far from perfect, but when I’m able to witness a student get “mad” enough at the thought of having homework to complete his assignment in the final 10 minutes of class, I count that a success.  What’s more, said student then fell behind on completing his planner before the end of the day.  I wasn’t the only one to notice this.  Another student offered to help by filling out his planner.  Caught doing a Random Act of Kindness, I proffered quick praise and smiled as we wrapped up the remaining moments of the day.

These little things happen all the time – the middle school girls who offered Raider red beads to the new student in our first hour; the sweet girls who wait in my room for cheer practice and let me French braid their hair – at all grade levels, in classrooms and on playgrounds, good kids are doing great things, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to bear witness to a few of things simple moments that become reasons to celebrate.

This post was written as part of a weekly Slice of Life Story community hosted at Two Writing Teachers.