Tag: back-to-school

On Your Mark

On By Piano girl5 Comments

The more I sleep
The more I dream
Sleep is good
So are dreams
But if my eyes
Remain closed
For too long
And dreams end
With waking
Never to be
Considered again
What purpose did they serve?
They are not fulfilled
By wishing, but by
Opening my eyes
To the world outside
Remembering
Both the sweet
And the restless
Allowing them to
Move my feet
One step
Then another
Embracing action
Accepting rest
Avoiding idleness
Held in a cycle
Of discovery
And learning
Failures and
Successes
Seeing dreams
As the starting mark
While welcoming
The holding of hands
That will, together
Cross the finish line

School started last week. Needless to say, it was a busy week! And I am tired. I was glad to see students again. 😊

I missed reading words and thoughts from my WordPress family last week. Most evenings, my brain had no room left. That, and I could barely keep my eyes open through dinner. 😉 Hoping to play catch up this weekend. Happy Saturday!

Teacher Brain

On By Piano girl5 Comments

I know that face
It’s a year older
But, still, the face
Of a child
The smile
A bit more
Confident
You were one of my favorites that year
Yes
I remember
Kind
Hard-working
Friendly
Artistic
Your face
Why could I not remember your name?
Hours later
And miles away
My mind clears
A name appears
That’s it!
Remembering
Makes me smile

Last night was meet the teacher time at school. Former students often return with their younger siblings to say hello. One stopped by my table. I was so glad to see him. We talked about the previous school year. I asked if he was taking an art class. Yes! He smiled.

Tomorrow is the first day of this school year. There will be so many faces, old and new. And though it may take a while to remember their names, connections will begin with their smiles.

Kind Words

On By Piano girl10 Comments

Colleague: We almost had a fight in the library over who would be the first to check out your book. Not really, but some of the kids were excited. I am glad they have this connection with you and poetry.

Student: Mrs. Morris, I was the first to check out your book from the library!

Student: My mom has the book you wrote at our house.

Colleague: I’ve been reading your book. I’m really enjoying it and learning a lot about you.

These may sound like simple comments. But each of them lifted my spirits more than they could possibly know. And they could not have come at a more needed time.

The start of school is always hard. Everyone is getting back into a routine. Takes a bit to adjust. And although classes are going well, I am feeling tired.

Grateful for the encouragement. And thankful for the reminder that kind words truly can make someone’s day. ❤️

If I Were Made of Glass by Kelley Morris — The Stories In Between

Opportunity

On By Piano girl12 Comments

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Parents and students will be gathered outside the building early tomorrow morning. Some will be excited, some nervous, some may even be afraid. Once again, they will be coming to school in a pandemic yet to be under control.

I have many thoughts, opinions, and experiences on this subject, but now is not the time. Now I have an opportunity. More important than any opinion I might share.

What is it? The opportunity to greet families. The opportunity to welcome students to the music room, making music with approximately 175 kiddos by the end of the day.

Will it all go the way I have planned? Probably not. And that is ok. Because the next day, I get to do it all again. A little more tired than the day before, but that is ok, too.

As for now, I think it is time for bed…😴

Recipe for Rest

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Far-off
Rumble
In the late
Afternoon
Looking
Outside
My eyes
Squint
Realizing
The sky has
Grown dark
Winds begin
To blow
Rain begins
To fall
Air begins
To cool
I begin
To relax
A perfect
Recipe
For rest
After this
Busy day
Falling
Somewhere
Between
Anxious
And calm

That Time of Year

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Back to School! School supply shopping, bulletin boards, laminating, meet-the-teacher. Even planning those beginning of the year lessons. Lots of smiles and hugs. Old and new faces.

Doesn’t that sound exciting? It is supposed to be…

And yet, here we are. Listening every day as people argue over how to deal with a virus that continues to make people sick and unnecessarily end lives. Listening as opinions are expressed passionately with little to no foundation, especially where schools are concerned.

I have had moments of excitement. My classroom looks inviting. Colorful dots on the floor and posters on the walls. Ready for students to enter one week from tomorrow.

I will be there to welcome them with a smile. Even though there will still be a knot in my stomach. I have had COVID and am fully vaccinated. My students are not yet eligible. Back to School feels like a test-one I do not want to fail.

What Should I Do?

On By Piano girl5 Comments

Walking around
The house
So many things
Need doing
Should I force myself
To complete this list
Even if it’s not really
What I want to do-
Or should I
Choose to ignore
Outside voices
And only listen
To the one
In my head
Quietly
Hum your way
Through the day
Rested and content-
Those things
That need doing
Will be there
Tomorrow-
As for today
They simply
Have to wait

Only a few days before school starts. Although I will be ready to see students and colleagues, the transition is always tiring. Soaking up a bit more rest before it’s time.

Keep Writing

On By Piano girl4 Comments

Ideas scattered
No inspiration
Whether to seek
Or to settle
Accepting
The need to let
My mind rest
Not sure
I know how…
Pick up the pen
Perhaps
Motor
Movement
Will trigger
Creativity
Perhaps not-
Either way
Watching
Words appear
Somehow
Slows
Racing heart
Cools
Heated face
Relaxes
Frantic brain-
Powerful process
Placing thoughts
On a page

Summer break is coming to an end. I am preparing for school to start. We continue to deal with living in a pandemic. Not surprisingly, my thoughts are scattered. And that is ok. There is strength in honesty. ❤️

Summer’s End

On By Piano girl7 Comments

Sweltering heat
Suffocated
The entire
Afternoon
One step
Outside
And I was
Immobile
In the still
Stifling air
Surely, I
Would not
Wish away
A summer day-
Quite
The change
From early
This morning
When, after
One look
At the calendar
I realized
Summer was
Slipping away
And began
Wishing
It would last
Just
A little
Longer-
Now I wonder
How many days
Will pass before
A cool breeze
Blows the wisps
Of loose hair
In my messy
Ponytail

Running Late

On By Piano girl7 Comments

This morning I left for work about 10-15 minutes later than usual. Not terribly late, just enough to take away that buffer between arrival and car duty.

As I merged onto the highway, I began to notice pinks and reds on the horizon. The colors created a glowing outline behind the clouds. As my car crossed the bridge over the Arkansas River, a big, beautiful sun appeared. Those pinks and reds were now perfectly blended into one giant sphere.

If I had left at my usual time, I most likely would have missed this view!

The experience made me think about how tiny moments can generate enormous power.

This first week back to school has been challenging. Teaching during a pandemic brings more questions than answers-more uncertainties than assurances. Yesterday, I allowed an onslaught of negative thoughts to weigh me down, unable to focus on anything positive.

Witnessing that stunning sunrise was the first step toward a much-needed attitude adjustment. And if my attitude today reflected even one tiny pink drop of those rays, just maybe I was able to encourage someone else.

I guess when you look at it that way; I really was not running late after all. I was actually right on time.