Perspective

I don't know where to begin with my job... I teach preschool. It is a lot of fun, but no, I don't get to play all day, and yes, the kids take a nap, but I WORK in that class. It is very emotionally and physically demanding. I have 18 students in my class, and 8 of those students have disabilities of some sort. In the past 3 years, I have had students with autism (from one end of the spectrum to the other), speech and language delays, developmental delays, emotional disturbances, and physical handicaps. I am currently potty training 2 students (at one point there were 4 in pull-ups last year), and teaching quite a few the English language. Since my kids are between the ages of 2-5, there are few days that I don't get swatted at or yelled at... they're going through terrible 2's!

As tiring as this can all be, there are moments that make everything worth it. My kids are learning to speak English, they are learning their letters, and learning how to work with other individuals. Today was an amazing moment that I want to always remember- to keep me grounded. I have a child that is very delayed. He is in a wheelchair and had a hard time keeping his head up and honestly I didn't know how much he would be able to do at the beginning of the year. Well today, he was in his stander/walker and walked down the hallway! He sits by himself at circle time and I am absolutely amazed. It makes everything worth it!

I also laugh a lot- I have to, or I'll go crazy! Here's a conversation that happened yesterday:

Student A (English Language Learner): "Mrs. McCollum"

Me: "Yes"

Student A: (While scratching her eye) "I have something in my ear"

Me: "In your eye... let me see... keep blinking, sweetie, it'll feel better" as I look in her eye and don't see anything.

Student B: "No, Mrs. McCollum, she said in her EEEAAARRR"

(I would also like to say that I say "I" a lot when referring to "my" class, but I have a lot of support. 2 instructional assistants, a 3rd comes in a few times a week in the mornings, a full time nurse, and therapists that are in my class quite often. I couldn't do my job without all of them)