Today added more years to my teaching career.

I must admit that I had been getting a little burnt out with the whole teaching thing before Christmas break. I know that's typical, but it was really bothering. I didn't want to anxiously await the break and dread going back.

BUT. I did.

I've been praying a lot lately that somehow, someway, I would start having the joy back for this tiring job. I've been trying to pray on my way to work and just have some good conversations with Him. I've been trying to take a minute during my "planning" period to ask for help and thank Him for the good things of the day so far.

Some days it is REALLY hard!

Today it was easy.

Today was one of the best teaching days I've had yet. I'm exhausted (46 middle schoolers will do that to you.)

BUT I think that means I did my job.

I had FUN.

We laughed. we jumped around. we made gestures for the standard we're learning. we voted with our feet to show what we knew. we read (and didn't fake read). we wrote great persuasive arguments (they're hilarious).

It's amazing what you'll get when you put "Persuade me to do something in 8 sentences" on the board.

Don't get me wrong, they still had their moments: I still told the same kid 2348 times to tuck in his shirt. I still told 44 out of 46 students to spit out their gum. I still made them turn around in the hallway to walk back and try it again (quieter) when walking to lunch. I still walked into the room and found two students wrestling on the floor (jokingly, of course. ha.) I still held a thirteen year old girl in my arms while she cried about her Grandpa having a heart-attack today. I still had to countdown for them to shut up. I found an "I'm Watching You, Mrs. Humble!!" sign/post-it note on my computer today.

-But none of that defined our class today.

It felt like one of the few days I can put a check mark by on the calendar and feel semi-successful about. :)

I taught.

Some of them learned. maybe.

I needed today. And. I'm thankful for today (and my kids).