worth it

I feel like I am working harder this year than I have in the last two years of teaching combined!! It's exhausting. It's frustrating. Sometimes, it feels defeating. But other times, often the smallest moment, it's the most rewarding experience I could ask for. And at the end of the day, even the worst ones, I love my job and am often reminded that it's worth it. Here are some of those small moments...

I was helping a student with an assignment at her desk. But, like most teachers, I was also watching and listening to the others about in the classroom. Two girls were looking through last years yearbook in the classroom library. One is new this year and the other was introducing her to all the people in the yearbook and pointing out all the photos that featured her. When they got to the 2nd grade class photos, this was their quick conversation:
Returner: "That's my old teacher. She was kinda mean."
Newbie: "Yeah, that's why I like Miss Mikyla, she's nice."
Returner: "Yeah! Way nicer"

One mom brought chocolates to the conference for my assistant and I. She insisted they weren't from her but instead from her son. She went on to explain that he loves coming to school this year. Even when he was ill he wanted to come to school. She went on further to say how difficult last year was for her son because the classroom expectations were difficult for him to comply with. Where was her son during this you may ask... he was break dancing in the class library. Which he then continued to do throughout his entire presentation. Not just dance moves, but also different voices. The whole presentation. His NeverEnding wiggles sometimes make me laugh, but they usually drive me nuts. But it's also who he is!

At the end of each month the elementary school has an assembly. Teachers select a few students to be recognized for showing a specific character trait throughout the month. Those students are given a rubber bracelet with the character trait printed on it. It's quite the honor! 
At the end of the day the little boy who received the 'creativity' band came up to me while the others were packing up and said, "Miss Mikyla, I want to give you this awesome paper glider because I am creative and you can play with  it if you want." 
I accepted the awesome paper glider- which looked more like an upside shark- and immediately started flying it around the room. I have another student who likes to be too cool for everything. I pretended to nearly crash land into his head to which he responded, "Oh my.... I can't believe an adult teacher is playing with a paper airplane." Before I could tease him (lovingly, of course!) the awesome paper glider creator came over to inform me I had to share the awesome paper glider with Kristine, my assistant. I told him we would see about that. :) 
He ended up being the last one at pick-up time. He looked around noticing that all the other students had left and we shared this fantastic conversation:
CreativeBoy: "I have to walk home now don't I?" 
Me: "Yep, have a good night. Or, you could use the paper glider to get home..."
CreativeBoy: "well... I am practically a bird so that could work."
Me: "What!" 

And these are just a few of the little moments.

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Oh Man! How does the time go by so quickly!!!! Alright, another fast update....

International Dinner: Very fancy. Quite fun. I love when the students can dress in cultural costume. It's so fun to see the different patterns and colors!! Most of the classes sang, but the third grade did a skit. They performed Baba Yiga, a Russian folktale. Some were narrators, others were silent actors. Then halfway through the whole cast changed as there are two Grade 3 classes.
After the performances it was time to eat! Parents bring in food representative of their culture and guest can travel around from booth to booth sampling! I had SouthKorean sushi, Indian curry, Canadian venison and maple syrup, Swiss chocolate and cheese, Russian pancakes, and falafel from Israel. It was a delicious evening!!

Report cards were due the following Monday so the day after the International Dinner, I didn't leave the house. I wrote. And wrote. Four paragraphs per kid.

We started a new unit all about healthy lifestyle and balanced choices. (I am really mastering that work/life balance.) We took the kids to the local grocery store for a scavenger hunt where they had to find things from each food group. It was the first official field trip, although some of the students said it didn't count because we walked there. The poor little market was infiltrated by little bodies, not once, but twice because the other third grade class followed shortly after mine.

Parent Teacher Conferences. Actually, the student did most of it. I was not told that the digital portfolio students had been working on would be presented at these conferences. So, despite the many lessons and things we could (should) have been doing the day of conferences we instead took almost the whole day to polish and publish the sites. The end results were cool though and the students did a great job presenting. Plus, most of them took the whole 20 minutes and saved me from having to talk a bunch! ha!

Conferences were Thursday after school and Friday morning. Once they finished we were free for a four day weekend!! I went with three others from the school to Istanbul for the weekend! It was really the first I have left Latvia since moving here back in July. (Finland doesn't count because I wasn't even in Latvia for 24 hours). I was Istanbul last November too and it was fun to go back. We stayed near the Galata Tower and had the Best possible view. We had a great few days of relaxing, wandering about, shopping, and eating. Oh the food! It was good!

As wonderful as the trip was I have to admit I was eager and excited to return to Riga. No real reason other than I love this place. It is indeed my home!

We returned from Istanbul for a three day week. Thursday was our first 'real' field trip. My class went to the Lāči Bakery. The students watched a quick film, made a giant pretzel, stamped out a few cookies, and got to hold some huge loaves of bread! We also got to wear some awesome outfits!! It was a blast and the students did really well. I am excited for our next field trip.

Friday I went shopping to find a dress to wear Saturday night and bumped into some from the school on my way. After successfully finding something I met up with them at new restaurant for a few drinks. And a wine-tasting of sorts.

Saturday night I attended the Marine Ball with a few others from the school. We spent the afternoon doing hair and nails and then enjoyed a fancy evening. The honored guest speaker was actually a student's parent and I saw several other parents there too. It was another fun night of dancing and laughs.

After an easy week and a fun weekend, I was of course greeted by an overwhelming Monday. I am discovering that things come in waves here. I survived one wave but forgot another was close to follow. Really close.