I hate being "human."

Some days (ok, many days) I wish I had one of those "easy" lives that we all dream about having - my biggest worry would be that my child doesn't get enough sleep because we're too busy having fun.

Sadly, that's just not me.  At least, not this week.

Due to personal circumstances, I will be having to take 4-5 days off over the next couple of weeks.  (I will be giving the students a head's up that I will be out a couple of times, but will not give more specifics than that.)  Normally, I wouldn't disclose this information or discuss my "personal life" with parents.  However, with the awesome community we've built, I feel like you guys deserve to know.  I also want to be sure you know that I'm doing my best to leave our kiddos in the best hands I can find while I'm gone.

Trust me - I would rather be teaching than taking these kinds of days off.  

Although I will be out, I've spoken with some fantastic guest teachers that are willing to come in to the class when I'm unable to attend.  Lessons will continue as planned, and the students will thrive.  

I will still be accessible via email in the evenings regardless if I am able to attend school that day or not.  Please, let me know if there is anything I can do to help your student be their best.  Although taking care of my daughter is my first priority, taking care of your kids is my second; just because I'm not physically there doesn't mean I'm not thinking about them (ALL the time!).

I love the way Kyle's eyes light up as soon as someone says his name.  The way Emma W. uses glitter on EVERYTHING.  How Emma R. and Bruno are amazing model students when they read to each other.  The spunkiness Tessa has and how much joy her enthusiasm brings me.  I enjoy how dedicated Olivia is in math, trying to figure out the problem solvers.  I laugh when the guest teacher tells me how Lauren was a little "too helpful" - because that's one of my favorite things about her.  The laughs we have all day long, like when we're talking about adding more pictures/artifacts of alligators in the room, and Emily comments that I'm surrounded by GATE-rs.  I love how R'Mani knows where he learns best, and he is proud to tell me that he's heading to "his spot."  It's awesome to see Pagna and Jean jump at the chance to be the lunch helpers, and how Jalen always walks faster than the class because he wants to hold the door open for everyone.  I love sitting with Kaycie, Leah, and Allison in math and listening to the conversations they have together about brilliant math concepts.  It's so cool for me, as a teacher, for Kourtney to tell me, "Miss John, I don't get it."  (Why?  Because she *wants* to get it and will ask questions until she does.)  I love when we do our victory dance and I see Asya and Alex out of the corner of my eye completely dancing their hearts out, not caring about what others think.  I love Claire's funny faces and how her huge heart is completely apparent to anyone she meets.  It makes me smile when Luqman is so happy that his teeth show when he smiles, and how I know that Jacob will say more in the last five minutes of the day than he will throughout the day.  It's great to see Shelby's dimples showing when she's trying *not* to smile, how Marco wants to volunteer to do even the gross helper jobs, and how Tori stares off into space sometimes (and even greater to get her attention back and to have her say, "Yeah, that happens sometimes, it bugs my mom.").

We've created this fun, fulfilling, fantastic community where each one of us is able to bring something to the table.  I miss the kiddos every night in the evenings and smile about the little things that happen during the day.  It will be very hard for me to be away - and I'm looking forward to the ability to share nonstop every day with the students again.

Thank you for understanding the situation - and for knowing that your child will be in good hands.

Please continue to let me know if there's anything I can do to help support you at home.