So I am less than three weeks away from completing my first year as a teacher. I have mixed emotions as this amazing year of my life nears its end. On the one hand, I am tired, very tired. The exhaustion of a first year teacher is incredible. You literally must prepare everything that you do because you have nothing created from past years. Not to mention I have had a cold on an approximately two to three week rotating schedule (yes I feel like one might be coming on as I type this).
That being said, not matter how worn out I might be, I am incredibly sad that this school year is ending. Anyone who knows me knows that I am terrible at goodbyes. I have cried at every job I have ever left (except for when Paige rescued me from the physical therapy office.) I cry at sad movies, sad songs, and anything sad at all. Now I know I am not leaving this school and I will still see my class in the hallway. But for 180 days, for 1080 hours, I have been teacher, mother, nurse, and companion to those children. We have had our good days and our bad. They have frustrated me when they talk too much or don’t follow directions. But on the whole, I can genuinely say I love all 18 of those kids. And now the time has come for me to pass them along to 3rd grade. I know they are ready. We have worked so hard to make them ready. And yet, I am going to miss seeing their shining faces, each and every day.
Here are the notable highlights for each of my students this year: (They were randomly assigned a letter to keep them anonymous).
Z- Entered as a kid who felt like nobody paid attention to him/her because of the special needs of his/her sibling. Left feeling confident and cared about, while sharing his/her Ripley’s Believe or not book with me at lunchtime.
H- Entered as a kid who was fearful of teachers who yelled and were mean. Left knowing there was a teacher who would hug her on a daily basis (then I wonder why I got so many colds).
L- Entered as a kid who tried to hide his/her journal because he hated to write. Left as a kid who received an autographed letter from his favorite football player and now reminds me what days journals are due.
P- Entered as a kid whose history of academic failure caused him/her to break his/her pencil points and rip the pages out of books to avoid reading and writing. Left asking if he/she can read aloud to me every morning which we do for fifteen minutes a day.
W- Entered as a kid who felt torn between his/her mom and step-mom. Left as a kid who learned it was ok to love them both, but opted to make three mother’s day cards, with one for me included.
O- Entered as a kid who was great student, but too quiet when called on. Left as a kid who gave a dynamic oral report for the science fair and now knows how to use his/her biggest, loudest voice.
A- Entered as a kid who knew how to make everyone laugh, but knew when it was appropriate to do so. Left as kid who made the teacher laugh, especially one my toughest days.
Y- Entered as a kid who liked to push and shove to get attention. Let as a kid who uses handshakes and smiles to settle differences.
R- Entered as a kid who was terrified that he/she got the “new teacher.” Left as a student who wants me to move in with her and her family, or at least next door.
T- Entered as a kid who was so nervous when his/her parent had serious surgery. Left as a kid who learned that homemade cards and stickers can make a big difference.
D- Entered as a kid who thought being silly and babyish was the best way to get attention. Left as a kid who learned that people will still love us even as we get older.
C- Entered as a kid who truly was a great student and person. Left as a kid who soaked up all of second grade like a sponge.
X- Entered as a kid who missed his/her best friend because he/she was assigned to the other second grade. Left as a kid who has become friends with everyone.
E- Entered as a kid who was incredibly messy and disorganized. Left as a kid who still needs to work at being neat, but now understands the benefits of organization.
Y- Entered as a kid who was argumentative and angry. Left as a kid who now smiles and worked hard to become student of the month, something he/she never thought possible.
V- Entered as a kid who felt he/she was the smarter than the rest of the class. Left as a kid who learned everyone has strengths and weaknesses and that is a great thing.
Q- Entered as a kid who hated to read because it was so hard. Left as a kid who wants to read aloud to everyone he/she meets.
G- Entered as a kid who had so many academic struggles. Left as a kid who will finally be receiving special education services after a long hard fight, but more importantly has gained so much confidence.
I entered as a fresh out of college teacher who was nervous about her abilities as a teacher. I left with a whole lot of love in my heart as I watched each of my students blossom. I left as a teacher who now knows that she can teach and I feel I have the greatest career in the world!
And now for your reading enjoyment…. Some funny real moments from my students!
Funny Moments in Class 2A
~ Miss. Mauro: “Will your Mom be home today after school today? I need to call her.” Student: “Yes, she always is. Unless she goes to Target.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “Can anyone use the word load in a sentence?” Student: “I took a big load in the toilet.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “Oh Student, you are always tripping and falling.” Student: “I know….” as he trips over a lunchbox and falls again. Miss. Mauro: “I was just telling your sister yesterday how you are always falling.” Student: “Trust me, she knows.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “Who can name the four stages of the life cycle of a butterfly?” Student: “Egg, Larva, I think the “Poop-a”, and Adult.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “It’s important to learn so that you can grow up, get a job, and live on your own.” Student: “I’m not going to be a virgin.” Miss. Mauro: “What?” Student: “I am not going to be a virgin. I won’t be alone because I am going to get married and live with my wife.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “So tomorrow we are going to try much harder to have better behavior at recess. Any questions or comments?” Student: “Did I ever tell you that you’re beautiful?”
~ Miss. Mauro: “How are Student A and I both the same?” Student: “You’re both teenagers.” Miss. Mauro: “Well no, neither of us are teenagers.” Student: “Yes you are, you just graduated high school.”
~ Miss. Mauro: “After we take our test, I will announce the new student of the week.” Student: “Miss. Mauro, please do not say student of the week until you are ready to tell us who it is.” Miss. Mauro: “Sure Student, but why?” Student: “Every time you say student of the week, my heart skips a beat, I want to be it so badly.”
~ Student: “See that picture of Frankenstein? That is what my dad looks like when he yells at me to go to my room.”
~ Student: "My mom does medical transcription, so she types like a million words a second."
~ Student: “Did you see that show on the Disney channel.” Student: “Oh those Disney people, they’re filthy rich I tell ya, filthy rich.”
~ Student: “This is for you.” Miss. Mauro “Oh Halloween earrings! Thank you, I love them.” Student: “You can even keep the box.”
~ Students: “Who did you vote for Miss. Mauro?” Miss. Mauro: “I’m not saying because remember who you vote for is a secret.” Student: “Well, then don’t tell us who you voted for. Just tell us if you were happy or sad when you woke up this morning.”
~ Students: “Miss Mauro, Miss Mauro, Miss Mauro!” Miss Mauro: “Please wait with your hands raised, I am coming over to help you.” Students: “Miss Mauro, Miss Mauro.” Miss Mauro: “Hold on. I hear all of you calling my name in my sleep.” Everyone laughs. Student: “Didn’t you know that was going to happen when you became a teacher?”
~ Student: “Miss Mauro, I want that floam for mystery prize so badly, I dreamed about it last night.”
~ Student: “Here’s the magazines my mom told me to bring in. And don’t worry, there’s nothing inappropriate in there like muscle men.”
~ While cutting out pictures from magazines for the Christmas presents for our dads. Student: “Is this one of the people on the beach ok?” Miss Mauro: “Let’s skip that one, just because of all the people are wearing bathing suits.” Student: “Why it’s inappropriate?” Miss Mauro: “Well, let’s just see what else we can find that your dads might like.” Student: “My dad would have liked that one of the lady in the bathing suit.
~ Student: “I really wanted to go to the Olive Garden for Valentine’s Day but my mom said no.” Miss. Mauro: “Why?” Student: “Because every time we go my dad never knows how to order just one thing, and then it costs us a lot of money.”
~ Student: “Have you ever heard of the snuggie?” Miss. Mauro: “Yes, I have one.” Student: “Oh my goodness, you do? What color?” Miss. Mauro: “Blue.” Student: “Me too. Don’t you love it, isn’t it so warm.” Student: “I want the snuggie.” Student: “Tell me you got the free book light?” Miss. Mauro: “Yes I did!”
~ Miss. Mauro: “So, we are going to keep practicing for Communion as much as we can.” Student: “Are we going to practice drinking the booze, too?”
~ Student: “Is Sister old enough to be a nun?” Miss. Mauro, “Yes, she is.” Student: “Well, even if she is old enough, I still can’t picture her wearing that black and white thing.”
~ Student: “My dad found a T-rex fossil in our backyard.” Miss. Mauro: “So should I call your dad and ask him to bring it in?” Student: “Well, he would have, but we already donated it to a museum.”
The reason I titled this blog entry a Circle of Love is because that is one of the songs that the second graders sang at the end of our special Communion mass. It was the cutest song ever with lots of uncoordinated arm movements. Part of the lyrics are: “A circle of love, yes a circle of love. Each hand in a hand, a circle of friends. A circle of love, that is open to all. We open the circle and welcome each one you in.” That is exactly what these children did for me. I was new to the school and they fully welcomed me in. They made me feel like a part of this school and a part of their worlds. And I am so thankful to have had them in my life….
Pompano ducks
Out for pizza
Me and the future bride.
Our close-up.
Look at those smiles!
At church the next day. 
