singin' don't worry

We had our end of the year performance on Wednesday the 28th. It made me realize that the kids spend a lot of their time listening to me sing. It could be that I sing to myself a lot. Or it might be my soothing vocal stylings and beautiful smile. Either way, as they smiled and sang for a room of adults (a terrifying ordeal, in my opinion, that has gone on for years. some of them like it. some looked miserable: this made me feel terrible.) eeeeeeeaaaaaaaanyway, as they sang for the room o' pleased adults, I encouraged them to sing really loud. "Okay, the song is I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing. Sing Loud! 1, 2, 3..." And then I would sing softly. And the class would mimic. I'm sure they looked cute. Mouthing the words, singing as soft as me. Adorable. Thus is the goal at the end of the year exhibit. "Welcome to the Unity Class Spring Performance. I am the teacher. Look at these cute kids. I did a good job because they are happy and memorized ten songs. Some of them can read. And they resolve their own conflicts. They also use their own toilet. Please stay in single file and follow along in your brochure."

I wish I had profound things to say about the epic First Year of Teaching. Instead I feel like my head spun around eighteen times and it took everything I had to keep my eyeballs glued in. I can't really remember whether every day was happy. I do know the kids were happy. The tortoise is alive and the building didn't burn down.

I've seen memoirs about teaching. And even ones about the first year. Mine would have vague memories of powder paint and reading lists. Lots of laughter, some tears and several post-it notes. I couldn't be happier summer has arrived. And this makes me feel guilty. I really did enjoy the kids. They are really cute. And some of them can read. And, I swear, they resolve their own conflicts. With words.

Farewell, School Year 2007-2008. I may have been heavily drugged. That's how blurry the past nine months look.