Mindful Monday

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in your own sunshine.~Ralph Waldo Emerson


This quote really made me think. Sometimes I just need to get out of my own way and really hear the compliments and enjoy the good things in my life.

We have recently had a lot of visitors at my school. I had at least 15 principals from NY city watching me teach a lesson. We are an NUA (National Urban Aliance) demonstration school. We have been a part of NUA for a while so these strategies are just part of the way I teach. All these principals were coming to see what we have been using that works. It was overwhelming but we got such positive feedback about how impressed everyone was by us. We also have a new reading program and more people were coming in to watch and make sure we were doing it properly. Gone are the days that teachers just close their doors and are on their own. The woman actually leaned over in the meeting and said that there are great things going on in your room. That same day the director of reading was in my room taking pictures of student work to show other schools and told me how impressive the work I was getting from my students was. The next day I got a note from a parent telling me that she was so happy that her daughter was in my room and that she wanted me to know that her daughter told her that I inspire my students to learn. I think that was the best out of all of the comments that I'd received. As a teacher I rarely get feedback. It really feels good to hear that you are doing a good job.

Then I had a wonderful weekend with the family just spending time together. Can you tell they are related? Which ones are sisters? In fact, there are twins in the group too. I often think they could all pass for sisters. My weekends have been helping me unwind and realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family. They are my sunshine.