8 years ago I came to NYC with my mom. We took a red bus tour bus through Harlem. My mom asked me if I could ever teacher here. I don't remember my answer but I do remember looking through the old school windows and seeing a teacher talking to her class. Something ignited in me. I can't believe how blessed I have been. I have had opportunities working in the top schools, with top teachers. I still get giddy with I look through my old school windows and realize I am living my dream.

So here is a tribute to another year of teaching... the BEST year of teaching! It really was a magical year. Starting off the year.. nobody ever would have thought. We went through a lot together! They are beautiful, amazing kids. If you look in their eyes you can see how special they are. Take their life and put it next to yours, you will never take anything for granted again.

Things I have learned while teaching:

- RAISE THE BAR. Sometimes my administration would have high expectations that seemed so outrageous that I didn't even think it was possible... but my students continuously blew my mind away. There was NEVER a challenge that they didn't eventually meet. I think all kids (down deep) are a little thirsty for challenge. Not that I need test scores to prove how great these kids were but they were one of the top preforming classes in the state!

- Sometimes it is alright to tell your students how YOU feel. Even if you are the adult and they are the kids. I really think my heart to hearts with my kids is what made this year so amazing. It taught them to identify their emotions and express them.

- Do as you say! Easier said than done but it is a MUST. I was around people who talked down to these kids. It was almost comical. They would scream in a kids face "DON'T YELL AT YOUR SISTER". I can't blame them because sometimes it is REALLY, REALLY hard to let your emotions get the best of you. If you practice what you preach the kids will see it and mimic your actions. My assistant teacher and I would always laugh at how impressionable my students were. If I was grumpy... they were grumpy. If I was silly.. they were silly.

- It's ok to be crazy. The longer I teach the more I loose all inhibition. I worked at a very high stress and intense school. I had to forget about it sometimes and just let loose. If you came into my classroom you might see me jumping on furniture, talking in a(horrible) British accent, singing the read aloud opera style or anything else to switch things up. The kids ate it up...it kept them on their toes... they thought I was pretty funny.. Jokes on them!

- Be consistent. Kids catch on really fast if you don't follow through on your word. That goes for rewards and consequences. If you say they are going to give them 5 extra minutes of recess you better do it. If you say you are going to call their parents... you better do it. Especially with my kids, you could lose their trust really fast so had to do your best to not give them a reason to not trust you.

- Keep Clam and Carry On.... It wasn't out of the ordinary if in the middle of a lesson a little mouse would run across the classroom or in the middle of a test a cockroach walk across your paper. The first time I experienced this I FREAKED OUT.... and so did my kids. I quickly learned that if I didn't compose myself my classroom would turn into a hot mess. I got to the point I was so composed about it my students started to believe these rodents were our classroom pet :)


I am still far from the teacher I would like to be but I have come a long way. If I could I would like to find each student from my first year of teaching and personally apologize to each of them I would :)

Cheers to 5 great years of teaching and many more to come!!!