Learning in the Hills of SD

A great day!  Finally, time to relax and enjoy a local treasure.  We went to the Buffalo Round-up in Custer State Park, South Dakota.  The leaves are just starting to turn shades of beautiful orange, red and yellow.   The Art Show was fun!  Taking the time to enjoy the beauty in the Black Hills is a treasure in itself.  The start of the school year is so incredibly busy! It is easy to forget how important it is to take care of one’s self!

What?? Take care of myself? How do I have time to do that? Yet when one does take the time to treasure one’s self, it becomes much easier to continue to give to others.  As teachers we give of ourselves continually.  Taking time to recharge is critical to keeping a positive attitude!  Have a great weekend and remember to take some time for yourself!

Goal setting for the new school year, trying create a few meaningful goals.  I could be called the “The Thinker” as I ponder what is most important.   As I think my random thoughts of the importance of my job, it hit me. If I can help students understand what a TREASURE learning is to one’s life I will have accomplished my most important goal.  If I can leave just one memory of this year in the minds of my middle school students this is it!

Beginning the school year is a great time to model enthusiasm for the wonder of knowledge.  Many students have sadly lost their zest for school by the time they enter my classroom.  Not wanting to waste time on past mistakes, it is still critical to try and reach the students where they are at.  Honest discussions with our most needy students often reveals the problems they deal with both at home and in the classroom.  My goal for the year may be hard to attain.  I know my work is cut out for me…… yet if we can treasure the learning in my classroom maybe, just maybe my students will learn to value knowledge and look forward to learning for the sake of learning! #ebshare