My fifth year of teaching is quickly coming to a close. I don’t want it to. It’s a strange feeling I’m having right now. In less than a month, the school year will be over. My classroom will be stripped bare and my students will move on.
On the last day of school I am usually overcome with a feeling I can’t really describe. I will often stay behind on that last day and not want to leave. Even though my students rush out the door, and the class really isn’t mine anymore. The room is an empty shell, waiting for a new school year. I guess I will call this feeling “the last day blues.”
The strange thing is this year I am anticipating these feelings. I can see the finish line and instead of being excited, I am looking back towards the starting line. I see how far I’ve come. My students are right with me too, which is great. We’ve had a wonderful year together.
I think teaching has a strong learning curve. I just figured out this profession this year. In a lot of ways it feels like this has been my first year as a teacher. I know what I am doing now.
It’s strange to think that it took me five years of on-the-job training to feel like I can actually do the job I’ve been doing all these years. But at the same time, it is a great feeling.
That’s not to say that I still don’t have a lot to learn. I learn everyday from my students. I hope they learn as much from me. I hope we all take with us the things we have learned this year to make next year even better. Right now, I’m not sure that is possible. It has been an excellent year.
5 responses to “I See the Finish Line but I Look Back”
the end of the fifth year. You should be happy haha lets see if you can make the 30 years of teaching and then retire after all these years
A lot of teachers quit before their fifth year. I think that I can safely say that I am now a teacher for life. I love it and hope to make the thirty year mark. Thanks!
Hi Chase,
After reading this post, I was thinking, if I had kids in school, I would want you to be their teacher. You care that your students learn and aren’t afraid to admit that you’re still learning too.
I always wondered what teachers do during summer holidays. I guess we’ll see on your blog :/
Hey Barbara, thanks for that warm thought. It’s nice to be appreciated. And it’s a difficult job. It’s easy to second guess yourself about the practices you set it the classroom. But I try to be reflective and learn everyday.
Hi Trisia, I guess you will find out if you keep reading. Thanks for visiting as always.