Good bye, farewell...

A week ago, I told D that I was pleasantly surprised by the reactions of my students when I told them I would not be returning next year. If you know my class, you would know that they rarely show any emotion towards anything, and they have not been as friendly as last year's class towards me, so I didn't think it'll be a big deal to them.



Little did I know, I was surprised by their shock that I wasn't returning in the fall. I still think it's the dynamics of this year's class, but I just didn't have as much fun as I did last year. I never felt comfortable joking around with them and picking on them as much as my now 5th graders. And I don't know why, but instead of feeling sad and having the "I'll miss you" theory, I am somewhat relieved. I think this year definitely did wonders to me; there was the good, the bad, and the burnt out-ness which came from this group of 9-10 year olds. Sadly, I don't feel like I will miss them that much.


This is a complete change from my first year of teaching, when I was completely attached to my group of first graders. I cried me a river along with half the class on the last day of school, but this year I just feel very blah. Sure, I'm going to leave with a HUGE party with lots of yummy food, but right now I really feel like I'm not going to miss this at all.



I think it's my low expectations this year, but I was shocked at the surprises that were left on my desk when I decided to play hooky one Friday afternoon. There were numerous "good bye" cards which they made in art class. I always thought my group this year weren't very attached to me because of the way they behaved. But the words written to me were quite touching.

Throughout this week, I feel like I've been on and off with this whole "I won't see you again" thing. I think the highight of all this goes to a boy in my 5th grade class, we'll call him "Annabelle" (and yes, there's a story behind all that).

For the past year, Annabelle would troop into my classroom, and make a huge entrance like he's the king of the world. He's trip over a chair or something just to attract attention and make the rest of the kids laugh. He always thought he did a good job "annoying" me and would always make noises here and there just to get a reaction from me. I was never really annoyed, and have always enjoyed his stories (I just don't enjoy the fact that he tells me these stories at THE most inappropriate times, when I'm teaching!). Anyway, I told all my students that I would really like it if they could sign my yearbook, this is what Annabelle wrote to me, which I thought was the nicest thing he's ever said/written to me... ever! (He also dedicated a short story to me about his Sacramento trip that we took together as a class last year).

"Dear Ms. Poon,
For the past 2 years I have been having a lot of fun in your class. You have been a really nice person or teacher I should say.
From "Annabelle"
P.S. You are my favorite teacher out of all of them."

I read that and thought it was really nice coming out of him since we've developed this love-tease relationship this year and I always make fun of him in front of the class. Today, he comes up to me and asks if he can write a little more in my yearbook, and I give it to him, thinking what more he can write, this is what he continues on with in his P.S. portion:

"I am going to miss you. Bomber----@gmail.com".

I think that's the sweetest thing that a student has written me. Sure, I got other "I miss yous", but this one just means so much more just because of our history together and how we're always just having fun jokingly bashing on one another.

Tomorrow's the last day of work here... I'm going to miss these rascals. I know I shouldn't play favorites, but I have a few favorites from my 5th grade class. Thank goodness there's technology and easy e-mail/gchatting.