Well, today was the first day of classes for the family and we all survived. I began teaching today--grade 6/7, 9, 10, and 11 English Language Arts. Things went okay. Some kids were a little chatty, and I'm hoping it was just because it was the first day, but I doubt it. That's okay though, I'm excited to be back.
Knox had his first day of grade 2 and Declan had her first day in grade 1. It all went well and they had a great day. Declan has a teacher who is new to the school and is in a portable, but her teacher seems nice and she is looking forward to a full day of school this year.
Jennifer made it through sending Declan to school for a full day and had the day at home with Oakley. She was a bit sad, but had more time in her day not having to go to the school at lunch.
I introduced my classes with a poem by Rudyard Kipling that I thought I would share here as well. It's a beautiful poem that asks us to consider what kind of person we are and how we will live our lives.
"If"
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!
By Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).
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4 comments:
Great poem!!! Oh and I was more than a little sad today... I can't believe my baby Duck is in grade one. She'll never be home (in the day) with me ever again! :( I'm glad you had a good day though... and I am proud of you!!!
Thanks for posting this poem! I forgot about it -- having read it and loved in when in college back in the age of dinosaurs.. :) Now, I'll reprint it and keep a copy to share with Randi & Carla. I loved the first day of school - even as a pre-k teacher, it's so much fun to see & hear the things that the littles ones have to share!
Jen - wait until your baby starts high school (as Carla did yesterday)...that's when a pang of sadness will set in also! :)
Have a great week..
deanna
Jon
IF was one of my favourite poems while in high school. Yes, it was even taught back in the middle ages when I was a teen. Brought back memories, some good, some sad.
Glad all went well on the first day of school for everybody,
Hey Jen
Don't forget about Saturdays, Sundays, holidays and two months of summer to have your children home. Make the most of it. They'll be completely gone out of the house soon enough. Probably.
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