Room in My Heart

I've been thinking a lot lately about the hearts in each of my students. The place where they store all of their emotions; the place that impacts their learning more than anything else. These precious complex bundles that I get the opportunity to spend time with on a regular basis teaching them something that I think they will need to know for the rest of their lives. How much do I value them?

I have been faced with an overwhelming love for my students once again. I come to a place of tears as I wish them goodbye. I can't help but get choked up during this time. My students recently celebrated their Christmas Recital. All eight of them were nothing but wonderful! I was so touched by their talents and abilities. What an amazing opportunity I have had to teach them the violin! What a wonderful pleasure it has been to come alongside them for these past years and be a mentor in their little lives. I will miss them so much.

So, as I begin a new phase, moving into my student teaching in a little over two weeks, I think about what is to come... I wonder if I could love my next students any more than I have loved these ones. I wonder if there is enough room in my heart for the new children that I get the opportunity to spend the next four months with. Somehow I know that this place will be found. The next boys and girls will make their imprint on me. I can't wait to meet them!

All in all, I have no new discoveries from teaching violin these past three years except to say that if I truly didn't care about the souls in each of my children and have their best in mind, I don't believe that they would have been as successful. I do believe that teaching is going to be one of the most fulfilling professions I will ever pursue in my life. I am so excited!

2 Months Until Tennessee

It's hard to believe that I have less than two months left of this semester... and then I am off to Murfreesboro, Tennessee to student teach for fourteen weeks. This blog is going to be my outlet and the easiest way for you to find out what is going on in my classroom while I am down there.
Right now. Let's see.... I am nervous. Not too nervous. It's more of a surreal feeling that I have as I still can't really believe that I am leaving Dubuque in 2 short months. However above all else, I am excited to see what lies ahead. I know that the future is going to be full of hands-on experiences that I am pretty sure will impact my teaching quite a ways into the future.