I could tell you the first and last name of every teacher I had through the 8th grade. Each left an impact in my life and they all were patient, kind, and to me seemed to be the smartest people in the world! I knew very early in life that I wanted to be just like them! I am still friends today with my 1st (who is nearly 85 years old) & my 5th grade teacher. I was self-taught my high school years. This too greatly impacted my desire to become a teacher!

When I was teaching kindergarten and a student would say, “But I can’t read,” I could hardly wait to get them started with this set of alphabet picture books. Each week it was a four page book they assembled focusing on a specific letter. It would have a picture with the rhyming word and by the end of the week they would have it memorized and of course they were “reading” it! Their little eyes would light up and they would say, “I can read!” It was a great rewarding moment for all of us!

First-Be grateful and pay off the remainder of my student loans. Next-Replace items lost in my classroom from a ‘smoke out’ at the beginning on this school year. Last-depending on the amount remaining, either do a day spa with a couple of teacher friends or maybe a weekend getaway.