Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Forever Young


The end of the school year is always a bittersweet time.  The sweet is knowing that the students I have taught have grown so much in my care!  I have been there to watch some of them make the connection that all of those letters and sounds work together to form words, and I have even secretly cried with joy when listening (and silently cheering on) that little one read an entire book, look up at me with eyes sparkling, and give me a huge grin.  I know they are going to succeed next year.

As I give them all a final good-bye hug, and listen to them say how much they loved me and will miss me--I know that next year when they see me, it won't be quite the same--and that part is hard.  Some of them might still give a hug in passing, others will give a quick smile, and a few might just avoid my gaze like the plague!  {Ha!}  No matter how much time passes, though, when I see my past students, it will never cease to amaze me at how much they have grown and changed.  Although growing up is inevitable--we, as teachers, especially early childhood teachers, have the unique privilege of seeing children as they were in our care--forever young.  No matter how tall they get, or grown up they look, we will always remember them as that sweet little six year old.

I was watching Glee the other night {don't judge--I don't like it all that much}, and the Glee Club teacher sang his Seniors a song to say good-bye--and OH my gracious…I just couldn't help it…I CRIED.  I had to share the song with y'all.  It is my little good-bye to this year's sweeties, too.  They will always be forever young in my eyes.

20 comments:

Lindsey (The Teacher Wife) said...

uhhh! the end of the year is so confusing! i am excited for summer, but so sad to let my little ones go. today i bawled like a baby at our program... and it was the UGLY cry. uhhhhh! :(

Unknown said...

This is one of my favorite songs!! At my school 1st and 2nd grade go to lunch & recess together so when we get back to school a majority of my previous year's kiddos want to spend LOTS of time with me during recess and telling me they wish they could still be in 1st! But over the next week or two they start doing this less and less because they've jumped head first into 2nd grade. It's bittersweet to watch them "move on" but also one of my favorite moments because I know that my job is done and they're going to do great and be successful in 2nd grade :)
❤- Stephanie
Falling Into First

Anonymous said...

Well said, Sarah!

Delighted in Second

Mrs. Wheeler said...

I feel the same way! The end of the year should be exciting for summer, but I do get really sad! Wah!

www.mrswheelerfirst.blogspot.com

Deedee Wills said...

I sob (ugly cry too, Lindsey)then do the happy dance a few minutes later. Tons of mixed emotions.

I cried when Will sang to his class too!


Mrs. Wills Kindergarten

Rachelle said...

I cry, too!!!! It's at that time that people really find out I DO HAVE A HEART! :) I agree with Lindsey! It' so confusing! I want summer to be here, but I also will miss my kiddos so much.

LOVE Glee! :)

Heather's Heart said...

I love this song too Sarah!

The end of the year is hard. They start off as little hungry caterpillars and then we watch them fly away as beautiful butterflies. Our hearts will always feel the flutter of their wings and remind us of the magic of their journey.


Heather
Heather's Heart

Deanna said...

Very well said, Sarah! Thanks for posting the video! I love this song and it really is how I feel about all of my kiddos!

Laura Kate said...

Wonderfully said! I am your newest follower!

Miss Foote said...

1) I cry every year....but I try really hard to wait til I have returned to my room, after the busses have left.

2) Glee was SO sad...I so get how he feels!

Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee

Tangelia C. said...

Wow! Such a great song! I pinned it so that next year I will remember to use it when I make my EOY slideshow. Thanks for sharing it.

Kate.Mich said...

You expressed how I feel at the end of the year so well. We are in school until the 20th, but each year, I look forward to and secretly dread June at the same time. I am so proud of my students and how far they have come, but I will miss them so much. A few of them have been with me for 2 years, and it will be even more difficult to say goodbye to them. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings about the end of the year.

Katie.xx.

Miss Trayers said...

We do a clap-out for our 5th Graders moving on to middle school and it always amazes me to see these kiddos I taught when they were 5 and how much they have grown. I love that part of our job! :)

NotJustChild'sPlay

Allison @ Room Mom 101 said...

I agree with how hard it is to say good-bye and to see just how much your students grow over the year. Crazy! I also wanted to let you know that I featured your math stations set up on my blog. I am trying to figure how I am going to do mine for this coming school year. I can't wait to try it out!
Allison
www.room-mom101.blogspot.com

Polka Dots and Teaching Tots said...

A few years ago my teaching partner and I had a DREAM class. The last few weeks of school we were a mess dreading the end. That year on Glee, the students sang "To Sir with Love" to their teacher and I CRIED like a baby. End of the year can be so hard!

EmBellish said...

It is totally bittersweet. I've been feeling torn up about it all week. :( Gotta love Mr. Shu (how do you spell that?).

Emily
Tangled with Teaching

Patty said...

Amen!

A Teacher Without a Class said...

I love how much you love the class! The end of the year is always bitter sweet. I grabbed one of your buttons and would love you to visit my brand new sight.

www.ateacherwithoutaclass.com

Kate @ EduKate and Inspire said...

Hi Sarah! I wanted to stop by and say hello because I have been following your blog for a long time and now I finally have my own! :) Thank you for all of the great ideas you have shared on your blog! I totally understand that bittersweet feeling. I make my students a video slideshow every year and always get teary eyed as I watch how much they have changed throughout the year!

Kate
EduKate and Inspire

Sarah said...

Hi! I just love your blog! You are a very talented and inspiring person! I have a first grade interview on friday that I really hope to get because I love first and I hope to steal some of your ideas! :) Come check me out sometime! btw...love your name, greatest name ever! ;)

Sarah
teachingiscolorful.blogspot.com

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