Thanks. Thanks a million.

Happy Thanksgiving to all y'all! 

Would you like to see what some of my students are thankful for? Sure you would.

Aw. I'm sure she does cook yummy things. Moms rock!

This little guy is thinking ahead. In a somewhat garbled manner.

See now, this surprises me. The story she told about what Mommy did to her brother's pet turtle when she was drunk was the exact opposite of "fun."  Especially for the poor turtle.

Hell yeah! Me too!

Aren't we all?

*     *     *     *     *

Various crap at my school has caused me to veer from anger to despair to a sort of numbed listlessness over the past 3 months. Some of this crap is stuff that teachers everywhere put up with, while the rest is specific to the administration at my school.

Still, I try to hang on to the fact that I love teaching these little guys.

I wish I could show you all the pictures of my students making pumpkin pie in the classroom. The looks of pure joy on their faces as they measured and mixed and stirred were priceless and made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Kids need to do that stuff at school. 

Ask any decent early childhood educator, and she or he will tell you the same thing:  We need to focus more on what is developmentally appropriate for young children and less on the stupid crap that politicians and administrators and curriculum writers (who haven't been in a classroom for years, I guaran-goddamn-tee you) tell us to do. 

A special thank you to friend/team-mate/work spouse Ellen, for reminding me of this almost every day, and for nudging me when I need it.

T. and C. working on that pie crust.

They LOVED the rotary egg beater.

Crimping the edge of the crust with the end of a measuring spoon was a solemn business.

Buying all the ingredients and hauling cooking supplies/utensils to school and cleaning it all up afterwards was a pain. But it was so worth it.

Fine, I'll just go ahead and say it even though it pains me:  I am thankful for my job.

Comments

[Keri]

Happy Thanksgiving, Mary. You KNOW they are thankful for you. Well. I sure as hell know it. You are the few hours of the day of peace and happiness that some of those kids have. Thank you. Hope you have some happy happy joy joy today with those beautiful girls and Josh and others who love you.

[Margaret]

I so agree about the developmentally appropriate! Making the pie requires following directions, teamwork and is a memory they will cherish forever. Sorry to hear about your admin. I'm not crazy about ours either. :(

[liz]

Mary, I'm grateful for the teachers like you at our school, who are in it for the kids, who understand what they need, and who persevere to make sure they get exactly that, despite the $#$# baloney they have to go through on a daily basis. Happy Thanksgiving.

[maddy]

Yay! You updated!

Aww...so cute. My kids always liked special projects like making pies.

[the bee]

I am thankful that these kids have you as a teacher and that I have you as a friend. Any teacher who teaches kids how to make pie is the best teacher ever. Worth the effort ? Of course ! I will come and make butter w/ them one day if you like. Thanksgiving, cute kids, pie.
Best post ever xxx- bee

[FC]

I am thankful you teach.

[gail]

Great pictures! Is there some class people take to be administrators that turns them into out-of-touch crazies? I say throw them all in to a class room for a month.

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

[Lori]

I loved the thankful notes.

[Cathy S.]

The turtle story made me sad. At least she has a great teacher.

[Mandy]

I can't stop thinking about that poor turtle!

You sound like a great teacher. Those kids will remember you and their time in your classroom fondly.

[Margaret]

Blessings to you and yours for the Holidays.