Big Surprises, Little Packages

I have no words to describe what happened in my classroom today. After a mere four hours of sleep, I was sure I should have stayed in bed. When I jokingly suggested this, my friend, Brian said, "The kids, think about the kids!" And now I'm convinced that he has psychic abilities.

The day started out normally. Made some copies. Taught some math. Remade some copies. By lunch, right around the time I was takings bites of lunch in between fighting with the copier, taking the afternoon off was starting to look very appealing. And then.

And then I picked up my kiddos from the cafeteria. They had something up their sleeves. I knew this, because for the last week they have been badgering me to go out for lunch, leave my classroom for that hour of the day. So insistent were they that they got my mom on board. So today was that day.

"Have you been up to the classroom yet, Miss Wilke?" they asked, crowding around me.

"No, why, did something happen to the classroom?" I replied, pretending to be completely oblivious.

"Oh no, no. Just let us all go in before you when we get upstairs!" Let my 27 darling angels linger briefly in an unsupervised room? Sure, why not. Sounds reasonable.

I wasn't prepared for what lay beyond the door of my classroom. As I opened the door, several things happened simultaneously: 27 voices yelled, "Surprise!"; balloons were thrown at me; and the teacher next door, Becky, peeked her head around the corner and said, "Good luck teaching them the rest of the afternoon."

As I was bombarded with more balloons and several hugs, I looked around and saw decorations.

"What's all this for?" I asked.

"It's a party!" my students cheered.

"A party? Why?"

"Because you're the best teacher in the world!!!"

Floored. Absolutely floored. Every day, I am amazed by my kids. By what they know, what they learn, and what they can do. But today they melted my heart. They really planned this. They had soda. And cups. And cards. And pictures. And one kiddo even bought me a sweet ninja turtle piggy bank to add to my collection. I really don't have words enough to explain just how special my students made me feel today. Another moment of affirmation: this is why I teach. I will teach my kiddos many things this year, but I am slowly realizing that they are going to teach me a lot, too. Today I learned how genuine they are. They melted my heart and put a smile on my face for the rest of the day--and possibly the week!

Today, I am a teacher!