Tuesday SOL: What makes you joyful?

This is a Tuesday
Slice of Life.
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day. 

Check out the Two Writing Teachers website for many more reflections on teaching.

The root of joy is gratefulness. It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.
- David Steindl-Rast

Teachers are expected to be joyful and to create joyful learning experiences for students. What makes me joyful in the classroom? What makes it possible for me to be joyful in the classroom? What are my gratitudes?

I am grateful for

• three year olds, and their boisterous energy, their infectious laughter, their curiosity and questions
• playing and learning alongside them
• always coming home with something sweet, silly, or laugh-out-loud funny to share about my day
• the freedom I am given to teach, to teach the way I want to teach. I love not following a script, but having guidelines and expectations - and the flexibility to teach the way I'd like within these
• how much I move in my work, how physical each day is, how healthy this makes me feel.
• my colleagues, who offer me unlimited support, encouragement, and shared stories
• the diversity of my school and my staff, how we work to know one another, how we collaborate together
• my Teaching Resident, who comes to work with a big smile and energy, radiating a desire to be there
• the variety of my day and all the unexpected that happens in the midst of routine and plans - it makes me feel mentally sharp
• the young families who are sharing their children with me

What are your gratitudes? What makes you joyful?