Sheila Sims Iding
When you start a new relationship, sometimes you can tell it’s going to be special. Sometimes you know right from the beginning that it may be special…even only to you. Sometimes you may be reluctant and unsure and even insecure about the relationship but you are excited about what this relationship can add to your life and, more importantly, what you may add to it. So you begin…and before you know it, a year has passed. And so it is…it has been a year for my “new” relationship. It started last spring break. It’s been a special year and I just want to say Happy Anniversary to the Care Corner Days Blog.
Last spring break when I had a little too much time on my hands (and was in my “no buying” mode), a colleague sent an email to the staff suggesting we try weebly.com. (Thanks, Ash!). So I started playing around and ended up creating the Care Corner Days blog. It started out as a place to share the wonders and discovery of the world of first graders. I am so blessed to spend the days with first graders and the things they do, and think and say. I wish everyone could have a dose of first graders in their day. So my blog became a place to give others a peek into this amazing world.
The blog is also meant to be a place to share with parents the why and wherefore of the things we do in Care Corner. The academics kind of explain themselves. Parents have a good idea about academics because of a weekly newsletter, papers sent home and projects assessed and evaluated. Above and beyond academics…what happens in that 6 ½ hours I have their child? What happens each day when they entrust their child to my care? What is so special about our prayer service? Do they really learn to read a Psalm from the Bible every month? (Even in September?) Why does Imagination Station have such power? What is this talk about love notes? How important is Harriet…and why? Is there really more to finger painting than fingers and paint? What’s with all the music…the songs, dances, M&M? What is my favorite day of teaching? All this and more explored in a blog. All this and more meant to share with parents so they can read between the academic lines of a first grade curriculum. All this and more so they can see into the life lines of a teacher…and, more importantly, the life lines of a Care Corner Kid.
Like many wonderful relationships, you always get more out of it than you thought possible. Besides the sharing with this year’s Care Corner parents, it became a place for alumni Care Corner parents to remember and reminisce. It became a place for other teachers to do what teachers do…give and take ideas. It became a place for family and friends to have a peek into my day. It became a place for readers to share ideas, stories and some genuinely kind comments that have inspired me to work even harder at my job…at my blog. And, most surprisingly, it became a good friend to my teacher heart. There were days I couldn’t wait to get home to write and write and write. When something amazing happened, I shared it with my blog. With something troubling occurred, I vented in my blog. When something challenging ensued, I tackled it in my blog. When something touched my heart, I emptied my heart in the blog.
My writing is not professional…but I write about my proud profession. My writing is not published…but I publish it in my heart. My writing is not business or newsworthy…but I never want it to be. That’s what newsletters are for. This blog was started a year ago to share the wonders and discovery of first grade. In this past year I have explained, I have reflected, I have laugh and I have cried. And…I have written. And you have been kind enough to read, to share and to be the purpose of this Care Corner Days blog…from the very first day…until now…one year later. Happy First Anniversary to one of my most giving friends…Care Corner Days blog.