This week has been another difficult week,  a week where I’ve walked out wondering how a 19 year veteran teacher can constantly feel like a first year teacher.  Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but we’ve come a district of “one more thing” and “let’s make more with less”.  It’s disheartening.

But, enough about that!! I’m trying to write about the positives, correct?? 🙂

I’ve written about the staff here, so my positive this week is my class.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s 30 kids in a classroom that was built for between 22 – 24 kids.  We are pretty tight and have some of the bigger personalities I’ve come across.  Yet, they make me smile each and every day.  They make me smile with their silly questions, the goofy way they try to act cool, and way they can come up with excuses for anything under the sun.  They make me smile with the fact it’s going to be in the low 50s with 25 mph wind, and many are in shorts.  They make me smile with the creative ways they have to NOT get work done.

But mostly, they just make me smile.  They are a tough class, no doubt about that.  Many of those big personalities do not get along, I have some really low readers, and they LOVE to talk.  Being as close as we are, it’s easy to find someone you really want to talk with or someone you really want to argue with, depending on the day which makes it hard NOT to talk!  However, on a daily basis, I find myself holding myself back from laughing at the things they do.  Those personalities do make this a truly unique class, and honestly, I can’t imagine a class I’d rather have right now.  The best part of them, I’m really starting to see some positive leaders emerging and taking charge.  We talk on a daily basis about what it means to be a positive leader, how it takes courage, and not everyone likes them.  If these leaders develop, wow, what a class this could be!

I’m sure they I’m a bit more gray and bald because of them, but yet, it could be because of my own daughters too! 🙂

So, as you think of those things in your life that make a positive impact, think about the people around you, whether it’s co-workers or kids.  Your smiles, your laughter, your positive energy lifts them up just like they lift you up too.

Kind of makes it worth going to work, doesn’t it? 🙂