The group that I am thinking of that made the
hardest to say good-bye is the 5th grade class that left school for
the last time on the last day. Our group was special because I got the
opportunity to grow with the 5th graders and they got the opportunity
to see where hard work pays off. I do believe that high performing groups are the
hardest to leave. Once someone achieves so much and gets the opportunity to
experience it with someone else it means a lot more.
What I thought was really special and unique
for the 5th graders were that it was a tradition for the 5th
graders to be sent off by the rest of the school. Each other grade lined the
hall way to create a pathway for the 5th graders. Then the 5th
graders got to walk the halls for the last time with music playing and everyone
cheering. It was an amazing experience to watch and I could only imagine what
it felt like to participate in it. Once the 5th graders passed by
me, all I could do was think about the times we spent preparing for the
statewide test and just learning about our history and everyday life.
When it comes to adjourning from my colleagues
I become sad and happy. I am sad because for the last year I have learned and grew
with some amazing people from all over the world. I feel as though I can have a
place to go where at least someone understands what I am going through. I almost
don’t know where I will go once we graduate to find colleagues and peers like I
have today. Yet I know I will be extremely happy because we have all
accomplished something that many people will never have the opportunity to do.
We will have set goals for ourselves and will have reached them.
I feel as though adjourning is an essential
stage of teamwork because it is a way to see where workings towards your goals
have led you. For my 5th graders we worked 2 semesters on preparing
for the state test. When we received our grades from the practice test we had
seen that our hard work had paid off. Yet this wasn’t the last step, and I had
explained to them that it was time for the next group of teachers to lead them
further. So adjourning is just another phase of reaching your goals in my eyes.
Keisha,
ReplyDeleteA very moving post. I would have loved to have been in that hallway! That is a very powerful experience for those students. I, too, often think about what I will do upon graduation. Many of my coworkers ask if it means I will be leaving the center where I currently work. I believe that may be necessary to move forward in my career. I may be adjourning from two groups, my colleagues at Walden and at work.
Keisha,
ReplyDeleteWe do the same tradition of the 5th Grade Walkout. Everyone loves it. I had my students write a note of thanks to a teacher that made a difference in their life while at the school. All of the teachers that received a note were so moved by the words of the students.
Great post!