Memories

 

Finding my way to my own classroom in Arlington wasn’t the easiest thing in the world.  For some reason, I was good enough to student-teach in Arlington.  I was good enough to work as a long-term substitute in Arlington.  Arlington Public Schools even thought I was good enough to teach summer school.  But over and over, I wasn’t good enough to get the classroom job I wanted.

 

Finally, in August of 1993, someone said yes.

 

Yes, came over the phone after I nervously called from the lobby of a hotel in Scranton, PA.  A week before, my best friend’s father had died.  In that week, I had sat by the side of a grieving friend and, apparently, finally said the right thing in an interview.  Talk about some highs and lows.

Thirty-two years later, I’m thankful for my persistence.

 

I’m thankful that my introverted self kept trying to land that job all while facing numerous speed bumps along the way.

 

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease, Mary.”

 

That’s what my extroverted friend, Betsy, told me.   So, squeak I did.  I stopped waiting for personnel to call me with jobs to interview for.  I broke the stated rules and started calling schools myself.

 

Whaddya know- it worked.  After being told over and over that I didn’t have enough experience teaching a diverse population, I landed a job teaching 27 challenging 5th graders in a very undiverse elementary school. (Along with their distrust of a first-year teacher and involved parents.)

I made it through year one with a few bumps, tears, and puke stains on my shoes, but I survived.  And I grew as a teacher.  I learned quickly that the classroom I was managing was in no way like the classroom I had sat in as a student.  All those youthful pretend games of school didn’t prepare me for the real thing.  My degree only prepared me for the curriculum.  I'd have to figure out how to manage students, parents, and colleagues on my own.

 

Fortunately, I wasn’t completely on my own.  I was gifted with the best co-teacher and educational mentor one could ask for.  Catherine Reising-Jones listened to my ideas, worked with me through my frustrations, and taught me more about working with 5th graders than I’d ever learn in a classroom.  We weren’t quite equals when we started out together- her years of experience in the classroom and mentoring spirit were the lift I needed during year one.  Catherine taught me to appreciate a great working relationship among colleagues.  Kids come and go, but the work the adults of the school do together is what creates a safe learning environment.

 

Oh, and the kids.  Yeah, I’ve learned a helluva lot from them as well.

I’ve learned...

 

1. If a kid says he’s going to throw up, believe him and get out of the way, quickly.

2. Raising my volume does not lower the volume of the class.

3. Boys are more likely to cry in school than girls.

4. The best-planned lessons don’t always work out like they should- abandon them as needed. (Quickly!)

5. Kids who do ridiculous things and then tell you they don’t know why they did it aren’t kidding.  They really don’t know.

6. Kids and parents say unkind things.  Try your best not to take it personally.  (Sometimes that’s hard.)

...and so much more.

All in all, the last thirty-two years have been fun.  Some days are more fun than others, but fortunately, when I look back, the first memories that come to my mind involve smiles, laughter, and fun.

It’s hard to ask for more out of something called work.