1. I am thankful for my freedom and the amazing men and women who put their lives on the line to protect it.
2. I am thankful for my family! I don't know where I would be without their love and support.
3. I am thankful for my friends! They are my "chosen" family. You know the saying, "you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends!" My friends keep me grounded and help me soar. They laugh when I bump into walls (yes, really!), and kidnap me when I need to escape.
4. I am thankful for my senses!
- Sight: Life is vibrant and colorful.
- Touch: holding hands with my nieces, nephews, or boyfriend
- Hearing: Conversations with family and friends, music, laughter, listening to the wind
- Smell: scented candles
- Taste: sweet fruits, savory chicken recipes, and of course chocolate!
- Common Sense: So thankful I have this. So incredibly thankful that I have been blessed with common sense.
5. I am thankful for my colleagues! They keep me grounded, share my passion for learning and teaching, and many I consider good friends.
6. I am thankful for my cellphone: (Yes, I went there.) It makes it possible for me to keep in touch. (Plus I unwind with a few games.)
7. I am thankful for my books. It was like Christmas/ Hanukah in my classroom today. It was BEAUTIFUL. Students who completed their work on time helped me change out the books in my classroom library with the ones in my closet. Students were asking to borrow books over the Thanksgiving break... I love, love, love that they couldn't wait to read them. A few students asked if they could take their work home to complete over the break so they could sit and read their new book instead. I love that I am able to share my love of reading and am inspiring this year's class to try higher levels and/ or different genres simply because I suggest it.
8. I am thankful for doing work that matters. I live and breathe teaching. I get to work early so that I can not just prepare for the day, but also so that I am finished before students arrive. Often I allow my students into the classroom instead of sitting out in the hallway. By letting them come in early, they can finish their homework, get a little extra help from me before the day starts, help me (boy oh boy do elementary aged students LOVE to help), use the computer-internet based learning programs, talk to me about something that is bothering them, and/ or just come in to get started, etc.
There are only a few times students aren't allowed in before the bell: If I have a conference/ meeting, if I have too much work to do with students in the room (sometimes I just need a little extra quiet time), or if they were in trouble the day before. I have very few behavior problems because most of my students want to come in early.
9. I am thankful you are reading my blog. I am not new to the idea of blogging. I have tried this three other times. However, I never stuck with it. This blog is easy for me to stick to because I am writing about what makes me a happy teacher. Thank you for joining me in this new blogging adventure!
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading this post today! I hope you enjoyed it and continue to read and follow my posts. I'd love to read about what you are thankful for in the comments section below.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble!
Love to all,
~Sandra @The Happy Learning Den
I love your passion. I'm at the other end of elementary. Each year, I get new kids to school, prek teacher, and I get to teach them to love to learn. Starts with basic things and get them ready to be successful in school.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting Lois! I love your passion for potty training, proper scissor handling, and instilling that initial love of learning in school! ;-)
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