Single digits now remain
Where once 180 were yet unwrapped.
Days filled with reading, writing, speaking and listening
Math, science, social studies and all those specials.
Time
Days rushed by
90 minutes plus of reading
Was it enough?
What remains?
Time
Time to continue learning
Time to celebrate learning
Time
Time to read and write
Advice for the next class
Wishes for the next year
Time
Final blog entries
Final skype sessions
Time
Saying “hello” as we acknowledge where we began
Saying “goodbye” as we note our accomplishments
Yes, Time
Time for more reading and more writing
Making our summer plans
Because reading and writing don’t end
Although the 180 days will soon close the classroom door.
We are readers and writers EVERY day!
Thank you, Betsy, Beth, Dana, Deb, Kathleen, and Stacey. Check out the writers, readers and teachers here. Thank you for this weekly forum!
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Thanks for your inspirational posts, Fran. I’m lifted by your positive energy. Even though most of us are with the little ones all day. It helps to know there are so many teachers like you spending the time doing the same thing I do.
You are so welcome! I actually support many teachers in multiple districts, but my heart remains in the classroom where I spent YEARS!
Time is gone before we know it… love the organization and this phrase
“Saying “hello” as we acknowledge where we began
Saying “goodbye” as we note our accomplishments”
Thanks, Vanessa. Those lines and the 180 yet unwrapped were my faves! ❤
Can’t wait to read this to my 3rd graders!!!
This week (after finishing the state test on Thursday, we are working to MAKE of summer reading plan!!! Your poem will be part of my lesson. Thanks for helping me teach!!
Sally,
So happy to be part of your lesson today. And, so what’s YOUR plan!
What a great way to journey through the past year, Fran. I always felt like I never had quite enough time to do everything I wanted to do with my students, and the end of the year left me teary-eyed (I hate good-byes!). I am thinking that I could try to write a poem like this in a Hello-Goodbye format like Mary Ann Hoberman’s poem! I always get ideas from reading your posts. Thanks, Fran!
Yes, Love Mary Ann Hoberman’s Hello-Goodbye. And I love that I can give you ideas. As I fell asleep last night, I was composing a “preachy” kind of “C’mon, school is not yet over, keep teaching” tirade! This was way better for this foggy morning! 🙂
I love this and plan to share it with my students too. We are starting to make our summer reading and writing plans too as we ease into summer. I tell my students that some things have to be planned for, so we will make plans, but allow for opportunities too.
Exactly. Plans are like a rudder…help provide direction and not as the only course!
Reading and writing daily — when no one is watching — should always be the goal.
Love that – in spite of or even despite the fact that no one is watching!!!! Thanks, Stacey!
Great poem, Fran. Our family is counting down the days until the school year ends, too. For some reason, this year seems to have been very long! LOL!
Long winter was seeing 4+ inches of snow in Maine yesterday (even when I live in Iowa). Yuk to May snow!
Going with a final LEARNING push for the year! 🙂
We had snow here in Michigan last weekend, too! I was so disappointed, but this week has been beautiful so far.
Good! We had rainy/dreary yesterday and FOG today. . . slow, spirally start to spring!
There you go again, my friend, making my day bright with positive thoughts and renewed plans.
And you still have a ton of time to go! Can’t wait to hear how your students plan for the future!!!!
Great poem, Fran! You always manage to inspire.
Thanks, Rose! Trying to stay focused on the positive. So many wins to celebrate this year. Unfortunate that it’s a form of data that is not celebrated or embraced!
Time. Always there. sometimes rushing us; sometimes stretching on and on. Is it ever enough? I guess that is not important. What is, however, is how we use that time. You always give us something to think about, Fran.
Definitely all about HOW we use that time! Speaking of how, HOW are all your travel plans shaping up?
They are coming along. We have had all of our shots and we have prescriptions for the malaria pills. Not much more to do now. Should start thinking about clothes.
I love how much joy and energy this poem is filled with. I’m also green with envy since here in Canada, we still have 28 teaching days left!
Ah! More of an East Coast US schedule! You probably wouldn’t like our August start dates!!!