"That's when you know you're doing something right!" My Russian bilingual aide smiled as she surveyed the plethora of presents piled near my desk after school yesterday.
 |
| All from students. WOW!!! |
"We seriously have the sweetest students in the whole world!" I replied, thinking back over my day...
- 1st period: A student shyly handed me a gift bag: "This is from my family and me. Happy Birthday! We hope you like it!"
 |
| It's a TAPE DISPENSER for my desk! SO CUTE!!! |
- 2nd period: Another teacher covered the first few minutes of class as I finished translating for a parent who'd come in unexpectedly to talk to a guidance counselor. When I opened the door to my room, the lights were off. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!" An eruption of joy emerged from under the tables as my whole class (and a few friends from other classes who'd apparently gotten passes to join in the fun!) jumped out to greet me. V. ran up to hug me, and I was immediately mobbed by other girls who all wanted to hug me too. When the hugging died down, I noticed a cake and a card on the table! While I cut the cake, the Mexican students sang "Las Mañanitas", two girls sang "Happy Birthday" in Arabic, and then everyone sang together in English!
 |
2nd per. cake!
2nd per. card! |
- 3rd period: As I was trying to figure out if there was enough cake left to share with the students in this class, a beaming boy walked in carrying another cake! He proudly unveiled number candles and grinned. "If you want, we can make it say '03' instead of '30'!" As kids gathered around our biggest table, H. sidled up to me with a card in her hand. "Oh my gosh, you didn't have to get me anything!" I shrieked when I saw the gift card inside. Another student proudly spoke up: "I have a surprise for you tomorrow! You're going to like it!" Since I'd made the mistake of mentioning last year's mordida, several Mexican kids gleefully (but gently) pushed my face into the corner of the cake, much to the amusement of the rest of the class. I got another round of "Las Mañanitas," another rendition "Happy Birthday" in Arabic, and even a solo of "Happy Birthday" in Russian! We all dug into the cake, sharing stories about special birthday traditions in our families and countries.
 |
| 3rd per. cake! |
 |
| H.'s sweet card & gift card! |
 |
True to his word, the student who spoke up yesterday showed up this morning with a huge smile!
Chocolate & a journal? Of course I love it! |
- 6th per: Thank goodness, there was not another cake, because I couldn't have eaten any more! However, when we were talking about Tuesday Slices of Life, one student gave away this class' surprise: writing slices for my birthday!
- After school: My eyes did not believe what they were seeing. Right there, walking through my classroom door with a huge bouquet and a balloon, was a former student who now attends a different school in our district. "Happy Birthday, Mrs. M!" Unreal.
 |
| One of the students who brought cake texted him that it was going to be my birthday! |
I may still have a lot to work on, but yes, I'm doing something right. And it's the most important something of all.
What a fabulous day you had! How perfect is it that your birthday falls during Teacher Appreciation week! When you begin to doubt yourself, you only need to remember the love and gratitude that has poured out of your students. Happy Birthday Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteWow! That is amazing! Happy birthday and congratulations for the work you are doing. You're doing a lot of things right!
ReplyDelete