Another school year has begun.

It's time for another year. Another year of school, of learning, of getting up early, of deadlines, etc... As I sit in Starbucks preparing for the startup of the school year, I am pondering on how to best approach the first day of school. My classroom is being renovated so I can't get busy with the grind of moving tables, equipment, cleaning and organizing. So I find myself with a hot chocolate (I don't like coffee) reflecting on years past and what was great and what was not so great. 

I think it is easy for students to forget that teachers are people too. As a kid, I used to think teachers slept at school! I often wonder if students think we live to make their lives miserable or to complicate their lives with homework. In fact, we have our own share of homework. The work that is "given" out for students to do means that we have more work on the other end when it returns for evaluation.  

Why am I talking about all of this? Why is this important? I think it is important because we all have this sense of excited anxiety at the beginning of the school year. What will it bring? What does the year hold? As a teacher, I just want to help students be excited about themselves, about their classes and about what they are learning. I want them to take their learning in their own hands and experiment. Ask questions. Be curious.

My hope for my students is that they would find their curiosity and go with it. I hope they will remain in that area of asking questions and experimenting with new things. It is an exciting place to be and I want that for each and every one of my students.  

I want that for myself. I do love learning and I hope I remain in that place of curiosity all year. That way, we will all learn best together.  

Welcome back. Let's learn together!