Mama G

A teacher I admire very much, my daughter, Shannon, posted last evening about the joys of teaching in a small school. She was absolutely correct. There may be downsides, but the upside is not to be discounted. I have known many of my students since they were born, I know their parents, and I can laugh, joke, and cry with them (both parents and students) as I try to teach Math, Biology, Chemistry, or Life.
Life is the hard one. I don't set the curriculum, I don't choose the scope or sequence, and I can't do lesson prep in the evenings or over the weekend. I just have to go with what I think is best, think fast, and pray hard.
Yesterday I got a reward for the work, prayers, and time I've spent. A boy-man in the grade 12 class looked up from his Math 12 assignment, and said in all seriousness "Mrs. G, which would you rather do for our class trip - a cruise to Mexico, or a week in a resort in Mexico?" And HE WAS SERIOUS! My opinion mattered, and he really did want me to come along. Not to chaperone - this isn't an official school event, not to pay - he knows I can't, but just to have fun with people I have watched grow up.
This particular class has been "mine" since their grade 7 year. I love them. And they want me to enjoy this, their grade 12 year.
Life is good. And I don't care whether we go to Mexico by plane, or by boat, or even if they don't actually end up going farther than West Kelowna.