Welcome Back, My Little Friends

Room 23B was open for business today. I was still scurrying at 7:45 AM.

I had 3 goals for the day.

1) For my Smart Cookies to be proficient in an Earthquake drill.
2) For all of them to go home happy.
3) For all of them to go home. Period.

Many may be surprised by my goals. No SOLS? No instruction? No writing? No arithmetic? No technology?

Nah. Absolutely none of that was found in Room 23B. Yuck!

What could be found in Room 23B was...

• unassigned desks.
• acting and wrong acting of procedures of the Room.
• principal & newspaper man walking in as I said, "Let's see how tall of a tower you can build out of your tissue boxes." Yes, we did this for each supply. No, the principal did not stay.
• random Duck, Get Under, and Hold Earthquake Drills.
• a spontaneous gym evasion with my favorite 2nd grade teacher for some knockout basketball since it was raining outside.
• cheering could be heard for miles.
• new clothes.
• the prediction that I am 45 years old.
• earning of all 11 ingredients for a batch of fresh chocolate chip cookies for tomorrow.
• was a girl I hadn't met yet walking in  and saying 'I prayed that I'd have you this year Ms. Richardson."
• listening, sharing, kindness, giving, laughter, and humor.
• a child who I can only think I thank God your in my class. There's a reason your here. I see it in his eyes. I see it in him.
• no pencil sharpener. A ghost must have ripped it off the wall.
• brand spanking new shoes.
• hungry and tired third graders.

There is nothing better than watching a child walk into your class happy, but there is nothing better than watching a child walk in with a frown and leave with a smile.

Yes, all 3 goals were accomplished I do believe. The kids could do the earthquake drill in their sleep and made it home. As for happy, even the kids that stretch me claimed their favorite part of the day was 'everything.'

I couldn't be more excited and challenged for the year ahead. It will stretch me. Yes! And, this is empowering as I embrace the life that I was called to.

Moral of the Story:  My theory for these early days... "Capture a kid's heart and you will capture their mind forever."