Flowers of Another Kind

The other day in BlogLand, I came across a beautiful post over at my friend, Barbara's blog: The Corner On Character.  You can read it {here}, but to summarize she was talking about some beautiful amaryllis flowers being worth the wait to bloom.  Please go and read it because she explains {more eloquently than I ever could} how our students are like those blooms.  They are worth the wait.  They may grow and bloom at their own rate, but they will bloom in their own time. 

It reminds me of a little book that I always read when I taught younger students.  Maybe I should bring it out again.  Even my older ones could be reminded from time to time, that we all bloom in our own time.

Here's the book, Leo the Late Bloomer: 

Have you read it?  Leo does bloom...but in his own time.

My comment on Barbara's blog was simply,

"Beautifully said (as always), Barbara. I think I will bring some flowers to school this week to visually remind me of this as we are cramming in the last little bit before testing. It will remind me that with the right care, they will all bloom in their own ways."  ~Elizabeth

I forgot those flowers today.  I remembered them in spirit, though, and it got me through a pretty chaotic day.

I haven't shared with you yet, but I am in the running for our district Teacher of the Year.  I eluded to it when I spoke of all of the observations that I will be experiencing during the next few weeks. 

I'm truly honored to just be in the running.  And, I owe that to all of you.  I referenced blogging in my "on camera" interview today.  {Yes, I broke out in hives....not lying!}  I explained that blogging has truly made me a better teacher.  I referenced {this post} and shared that I look at what I DO in the classroom and decide BEFORE I do it if it is "blog worthy".  If it isn't, then what can I do that will be?

Another way that I've grown and "bloomed" this year is through my connection with Really Good Stuff.  Last summer, I was lucky enough to win a blog award from the company.  With that win, I became a monthly columnist for their blog.  {You can read about that win here.}  Writing for another blog is different than writing for yourself.  It makes you more self-reflective. Meaning, I was given a prompt or theme for each month.  I had to explore my own philosophy and feelings about that topic before I could sit down and WRITE about that topic.  It really helped me reflect upon my own thoughts and feelings about teaching and the direction on education in general.

I am grateful for that connection, too.

Which leads me to the connection between all of this and the blooming story above.

Look at what Brandi from Really Good Stuff sent me (and was at home waiting for me at the end of my chaotic day):

 

So, there are my flowers.  Ready to remind me to wait patiently while my students bloom.

Thank you, Brandi.  Thank you Really Good Stuff.  Thank you, blog friends.