You know...as much as I get sick of my job...I really do love it. There are so many absolutely redeeming qualities about teaching. This week I had a lesson that bombed. 90 minutes of patient students (bless them) but pain for me. I had already been trying to make myself work after a 4 day weekend and none of us wanted to be there...so it was difficult. I spent all afternoon, went to the library and checked out 15 children's books on Ancient Greece, worked late into the night and then got up early today to go photocopy all the pages that I wanted and organize them into something that would work better.

Why did I do all that? It was partially selfish. It is painful and exhausting for me to teach a bad lesson because I have to will myself to continue and encourage the students to come with me. I would be miserable. But then...there is another reason why. I don't like kids to get crap in my classroom. I want them to learn and I want them to have an enjoyable experience learning. So I spend hours of time I don't need to so that we all have a good experience.

But still...why do I do that? It's because there is nothing in the world like the reward teachers get from their students. Seriously...that's why, even after very little sleep, no pay for the countless extra hours I put in...that's why I still love my job. There is absolutely nothing else like a kid saying, "That is so cool!"

My kids...I don't know if I'm just lucky (well, I am...but still...kids...wow, I just love them). I have bad days but the kids...they come in and they want me to have a good day and for that I am thankful. Keith, one of my freshmen, came in today and asked, "So, are we doing anything fun today?" My instant gut reaction to that question is irritation. To me that implies that to do something fun would be something to look forward to, out of the ordinary. With as much humorous sarcasm as I could muster I looked shocked and cried, "Why Keith, what ever do you mean?" And that sweet kid responded, completely seriously, "Ms. Burdick, I only asked because I knew that the answer would be yes. I know because every day in this class is a fun day." He sounded so grown up and matter of fact that all I could say was, "Well, thank you Keith. That is good to hear." And he said, "You're welcome Ms. Burdick. I really mean it too."

The verbal encouragement is wonderful. Other things are encouraging as well.

The lesson I rewrote worked like a charm. I'm excited to see what they bring to me. I won't bore you with the details but basically they got a lot of choice and they got so excited about the products that I asked them to make today that they're going way overboard. One of the options for a product was to make a CD. They were to write one original song (showing their learning of course, since we have at least 10 musical learners in that class...weird, I know), come up with six other original titles only of songs, and then design the case cover. My third period started working on it and then after lunch came running back in. There were three of them, they were babbling at me and practically tripping over each other in their haste. "Ms. Burdick! Listen to our song!" "Wait, you wrote music? You realize you only needed to write the lyrics, right?" Oh, they knew. But last period with their extra time in media they had composed music for their song and recorded it. It was sooo good! They started singing the lyrics for me while it was playing!!! This is when teaching is rewarding. They were so excited to come back because they wanted me to see the cool thing they made. We reward each other. I give them the affirmation they need and they give me evidence that what I do means something.

I had a drop in observation today by my Vice Principal. Excellent, just excellent. I was sortof like...well...it could be worse. 1o minutes into class Brian makes his way towards me on the way to his group, and slyly says, "Ok...so what do you want me to say? He's sitting right next to me. You want me to talk you up? I can make general observations or I can make comments to Paul about how engaged I am." I laughed and said, "Brian, thanks for the consideration but I think the best thing you can do to help me is to just do what you're supposed to." Looking thoughtful Brian replied, "Ohhh! Right...got it boss." At the end of class Brian walks towards me grinning, "Well, I told him what's what. I put in a good word for you." He winked, nodded encouragingly, and said, "Bye Boss!" As he was walking past the VP, on his way out the door I saw the VP laughing!! James (the VP) NEVER laughs. The guy is a stoic. He has a sense of humor, but he just doesn't laugh. He smiles sometimes. But here...he was laughing!! I am now a little worried about what Brian said, but it must have been good because James said, "What a great class! Thank you for letting me sit in. I really enjoyed it."

Reflection: At the end of the day, when a kid stays after class still thinking and talking to you about a subject, when they walk in and cheerily say hello, when they come back and visit in droves (pounding on the door so loud that you scream and jump out of your seat...Nick came back to say hello yesterday...just about gave me a heart attack), when they choose you to tell about the grief that they are going through, when they call your name and cheer you like a movie star, when they say thank you, when they say "ah ha", when they get excited about homework, when they come to chat before class, when they can't wait to tell you what they heard on the news, when they email you something that they think is interesting and that they think you'd find interesting too, when they want to know about your life and want to tell you about theirs, when they hang around during passing when they could be hanging around in the hall...these are all reasons why, despite the hard work, I love my job. Some anonymous person once said that the best things in life are worth working for. I guess I'd say I agree. I may not make a lot of money. But, gosh darn it. I make a difference.

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