Tramps Like Us . . .

I love everything about being a teacher.  Believe me, I do.  I love . . .

sharing anything and everything I know about literature and writing

watching light bulbs go off when kids get it

seeing kids grow--physically and intellectually

being a mentor/role model

reading kids' writing

sharing my writing with kids

reading to kids

sharing my own love for learning
learning from my students

getting to know new kids/families
working with colleagues who feel more like family than co-workers

and mostly

THE KIDS

but sometimes

like any job

it just gets so hard

and that's why I have little rituals to help me make it to that last day of school.

like . . .

getting facials during our breaks

making Saturdays totally school-free days

using spring break for my own personal writing retreat

and, my favorite . . .

making that last day, which is a teacher work day with no kids, a BORN TO RUN day!

By the time I get to the last day, that is exactly what I want to do--run.  It really does feel like the school, the job, the politics, the stress

rip the bones from your back

It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap

We gotta get out while we're young

'cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

And so I always wear my Born to Run shirt on this last day, the only day I would ever wear it to school, and blast Bruce all the way to and from school!

Let's RUN, girls!!!

Thank you, Bruce, for helping me find reasons to believe every single day--especially the LAST DAY! 

Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
'. . .