Not an End, but an Opportunity for a New Beginning

For two students in my class, today was the last day of school. One of them was moving, and so it truly was her last day. As I said farewell to them, I guess the reality of it all started to really sink in. All teachers know that bittersweet feeling that the end of June brings. Despite the fact that we leave so much of ourselves in that classroom every day when we go home, and despite the fact that we do look forward to the relative calmness and mental relaxation of the summer, we can't help but feel that we are incomplete without our classroom and the students that give it life. For me, it is never really a happy ending.

Tomorrow is the last day of school. All student desks are now empty, save for the nameplates that still lay proudly on their faces. Tomorrow they will come off, and for me that is the true end of school. This class will move on, and another will take its place. The bookcases of my library are covered. They are no longer inviting my students to pick literature that they might enjoy. The math center is covered, no longer offering manipulatives and counters to help foster mental math skills. The closets are closed, and the entire top of my desk is clearly visible. It has been said that an empty desk is the sign of an idle mind, and perhaps that is why mine is so 'busy'.

I will really miss my class, and I wish them all the best as they move towards the fifth grade and beyond. September really isn't that far away, and soon the classroom will be filled once again with hope and excitement. The process is renewed, and the opportunities refreshed. I will be spending part of this summer putting together plans for new projects and curriculum extended learning opportunities. I am excited as I look towards next year, even though I am looking forward to spending some more time with my family.

I like to think that everyone, both the students and myself, have become better since that first hopeful and exciting day in September. I know I have, and I thank each one of my students for letting me be a part of their lives and learning.

Have a great summer.