My Back to School Musings for August 4 – T minus 20 days until I meet with a whole new crop of at-risk teens.
Today I decided that I am going to keep track of the aha moments I see this school year. The aha moments . . . when a student makes the connection between text and life; when creativity is sparked and a new concept is created; when a block is finally taken down and my student can read, speak, or write with freedom and joy; when a student finds boldness and shares learning and wisdom with the world around her. The moments that come from pure “WONDER” and the joy of learning.
Those aha moments are why I teach and have nothing to do with common core or with high stake testing except to place those external aspects of the day in the correct perspective. That too is an aha moment – for me and for my students.
So this year, I am going to keep track of this moments and run with them and let them be the fuel to keep on keeping on.
August 1st is for me the start of the new school year. It is today that I start planning for the next wonderful crop of students. It is today that I start looking at how to revise old lessons and create new lessons. It is today I set a goal for the year and a tone for the first day of school.
It is with more trepidation than ever that I begin this school year. I fear this year will be a terrible one for public education. But today I choose to put aside my fear and cling to a glimmer of faith.
In 24 days, I will meet a new crop of at-risk teens – some of them brand new and some of them returning but all of them ready to be touched by love and by wonder.
All I have so far is my motto for the year – the quote that will go on my lesson plan book and on the bottom of each and every email I send out. It is:
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”
― Socrates
My prayer is that we all catch hold of wisdom and ride the wave of wonder.
Poetic Justice 
HARD….but the right “TUDE”!!!!!!!!!!! ONLY GOD……GRACE in abundance to you and your special kids. I’m encouraged for them. God is hand-picking them right now! By His power and grace….Fondly, Nan
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