Another Amazing Year On Its Way!

Today I have spent the afternoon with my laptop, google reader open, twitter page going, learning so many new and amazing things from my PLN (Personal Learning Network).  Those of you who have not embraced the concept of twitter or subscribing to a blog, this is another call out to you.....DO IT!  Your experiences with these tools will be substantial, I guarantee it.

Okay, enough, I'm stepping off the soapbox....and now to what I really wanted to share. 

My daughter is getting excited (and this mommy, a little nervous) as my baby begins kindergarten.  Just a few weeks from now she will get her first taste of public education. 

I am thinking two things:

1) How can this be possible, she's in kindergarten???  2) I hope she loves what she sees, experiences, feels, learns and wants to return.

Every teacher getting ready for school is probably feeling a bit anxious, with so much to do and so little time.  I want to encourage you all (again) to stop, focus and remember what your JOB is about.  You hold so much promise in your hands each year.  Your JOB is to help children learn to LOVE LEARNING.  And to BELIEVE in themselves.  And you should promise each year to do everything in your power to make this happen.  I know so many of you do.  And I know how daunting a task this can be. 

If I could write this letter directly to my daughter's teacher, begging for a few things, it would be this: Please love my daughter.  Help her feel important and worthy.  Give her courage to try those things that stretch her thinking.  Build her confidence.  Deem her an important part of the community.  All these things can be accomplished (again) with the love of a teacher.

One of the blogs I love to follow is written by a gentleman named Larry Ferlazzo.  Today's blogpost was fantastic, and one I think every teacher should read as you get ready for another school year.  It discusses the relationships you build with your students and how those first few seconds you spend with them can make or break the entire year of learning.  (Here's Larry, to the right).  Great blogger, awesome site....you should read it!!

Please enjoy these last days of summer.  Soak up those rays, eat a few fair corndogs, take a long walk,.....then breathe deeply and get ready to GEAR UP!  It's going to be a great year!

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