One Year Down…

Today marks 1 full year that I have been writing about teaching Spanish to K-8th graders. It has been great, filled with ups and downs, challenges and solutions.

Looking back on the past year, it has been a whirlwind of new ideas and new connections. Reflecting on all the things that I have learned and all the things that I have shared, I see that I am truly lucky to be in the position that I am in.

It has been hard, at times, to put myself out there, to make my activities and stories and failures and successes public. But sharing my reflections has forced me to think positively about failures and frustrations. It has forced me to look back at what was good about the day/lesson/activity rather than focus on what sucked. Framing failures and frustrations in a positive way has been the thing that has saved my career in teaching and without this blog and the support from the readers, I wouldn’t have had the outlet for doing it.

So, thanks to all you who follow this blog. Thanks to all the people who have reached out to me to make connections either through comments, emails, or twitter conversations. Thanks to all the people who have critiqued my stories and have made suggestions to improve them.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have inspired me to share my reflections and become a better teacher. Just looking at the list of blogs on my front page gives me strength to keep going and gives me daily inspiration. Knowing that I am not the only teacher who has bad days or lessons that don’t work is comforting. I’m not I. This alone. And knowing that my own struggles and successes might help someone the way that yours have helped me is what keeps me going.

Thank you for a great year.