The end is near!

Only 3 half days left of school.

On the agenda: Playing in a student-staff softball game, watching a video that I filmed/edited/made for/of my class, and completing the tear-down of my classroom.

It's crazy stuffing this year into boxes.  I still can't fathom that a mere ten months ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into.  Now I not only have experienced my first year of teaching, but I am on my way out of it. 

There have been many successes and shortcomings along the way.... probably more of the latter, but one success story in particular has been on my mind for a few days now.

All of my students came to me this year as low-performing students.  Most of them struggled across the board, but those who tried and completed the tasks I put before them improved greatly.  One student whose presence in my class has been overwhelmingly enjoyable probably came to me with some of the most primer skills of all.  For most of his life, this student was moved from school to school because he was not getting the help that he needed... and this student truly needed individual attention and so much patience.  I have been blessed with the patience of a saint, or so I have been told, and I was also blessed with a small classroom that allowed me to get to know each student individually.  Combine those factors with my genuine love for this kid and his family - the strongest family support system I've seen in my time teaching - and you have created a place where he feels safe and eager to learn.  The student certainly has more growth to be done, but his success this year has been monumental.  I couldn't believe it myself until I saw the numbers that indicated that, after entering fifth grade with reading scores that match students who have received no schooling, he ended the year with nearly a fifth grade reading level, which places him in the average range for students his age.

I wish I could say that five years of growth was the average for my class, for my kids need so much more than that, but this success story for my student leaves me with much hope for next year.  I started this year knowing nothing.  Sure, I had common sense and trial and error, but I felt as though I spent a lot of time learning on the job, which is generally the nature of any new position.  Knowing that I could help facilitate growth even with such a struggle in the beginning makes me both excited and anxious about my new challenge: to take what I've learned and make next year a far more successful year for my kids. 

Thank God I'll have two months to rest up for that endeavor.