Teacher Appreciation Week

By Friday of teacher appreciation week, I was fighting tears.

In case you aren't familiar with my role as a paraprofessional, let me tell you a little bit about it.  In the lower grades, each teacher has a para that is assigned solely to her classroom.  Upper elementary teachers share paras at DWCS.  As a fifth grade para, I mostly with struggling students in ELA.  When one of the fifth grade teachers is absent, I sub for her.  There are three groups of about five kids that I work with on a regular basis, but I have gotten to know pretty much all sixty-five of the fifth graders through my substituting, entering lunches into the system, and watching recess.  I don't spend nearly as much time or energy on most of these children as their teachers do.

But they treated me this week like I hung the moon.

Our PTO went above and beyond.  Each morning, fresh flowers and breakfast awaited us in the teachers' lounge.  There were donuts, muffins, granola bars, lemon water, homemade cookies, and more!  There were door prize drawings each day.  I'm pretty sure every staff member won a prize!  I got a bag of Mary Kay goodies for my feet!  Friday, lunch was catered.  Fried catfish, grilled shrimp, fried shrimp, hush puppies, fries, slaw, sweet tea.  It was heavenly!  And EVERY staff member received one of these adorable baskets with our school initials on them.

Below are some of the gifts my students and their parents gave me.  Their thoughtfulness truly overwhelmed me with emotion.  I hope every profession receives appreciation in some way or another.  Teachers are spoiled in that respect.  

This was from one of those students that I haven't spent a whole lot of time with.  Yet she and her mother still remembered me this week.  The notebook on the left was designed my this students' mother.  Isn't that awesome?  The gift at the top right contained marigold and pansy seeds.  I can't wait to plant them.

This hummingbird feeder and food is so special to me.  A little girl picked this out for me because she loved to sit and watch hummingbirds with her grandmother before she passed away.  How special for her to share that memory with her teachers.  I can't wait for the birds to start arriving.  She has been asking me if I have seen any yet.

This bookmark was handmade by one of my students.  She gave me a pretty flower, too!
I will find a perfect spot for it in my classroom next year.

I have never heard of this brand, but I love that this scent is named after a scripture.
I'll have to find out where I can get my hands on more of this.  What a perfect gift!

One of my sweet boys made me this card and bracelet in our school colors.
I have made this student angry with me quite a few times.  I have pushed him to put forth more effort many days, and he has left me with a frown on his face.  To know that he appreciates me makes the struggles between us all worth it.

One of my kiddos brought me a different gift each day of the week.  Monday, he was "berry" glad that I was his para, and he brought me chocolate covered strawberries.  Tuesday, he thanked me for helping him "grow", and brought me a beautiful pot of calla lilies.  Wednesday, he was "soda" lighted that I was his para, and brought me a Sonic drink with a favorite snack of mine-almonds.  Thursday he brought me a beach bag with a towel, flip flops, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle.  Friday, he brought me a gift card with a super sweet note from his mom.  She had sent me a Target gift card because she had remembered that I mentioned buying shelves from Target for my classroom next year.  Her sweet words of gratitude for working with her son this year made my heart fill so full.  We shared a teary smile of thankfulness that morning.  It is an indescribable feeling to know that someone has put forth so much effort to do something special for you.  She has helped me so much my first semester at DWCS!

Some days are hard to get through.  I struggle to motivate students, to get them to concentrate.  Some days I feel like I don't accomplish much of anything with my kids.  Every day, what time they are going to recess is more pressing than learning ELA.

Some days are far more rewarding.  Moral issues come up in conversation, and I can only hope that my words have some sort of impact on them.  Some days a student is feeling down about himself, and  I am given the opportunity to tell him that he is smart.  That he can do this.  

Working in this field comes with its own rewards.  Every hug, every smile is a student showing his or her appreciation.  But how special to have an entire week for parents and students to spoil us.  Thank you.