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Good Morning

Every morning I sit outside my classroom and greet each student.  We exchange "good mornings" and they tell me what they are doing for lunch.  It's a nice time of day because I get to see each one of my students and connect with them, if only for a moment.  The day quickly gets itself into motion and the whirlwind of learning commences. 

That initial connection in the morning is the spark that sets the tone of our day.  It brings to light the humanness in us all; kids are people too and so are teachers. As we get to know one another we find out more and more about each other.  I have the privilege of learning about 21 individuals...each with their own dreams and fears, talents and skills, highs and lows.  Each one of them comes to me day after day with a host of experiences from their lives; as do I to them.  Each one of them comes to me with a sense of self that has been in the works for the past 9-10 years; mine spans 45.  When they approach me in the morning I get to look into their eyes for a brief moment and much of the time I can see what lies behind them.  Some days they are tired, others they are full of life.  Some days they are sad, other days they are bursting with excitement.  Some days they are confused, on others they have a command of their day. 

As we cruise through our day we exchange interactions on many levels.  We talk, we laugh, and sometimes cry.  We help one another with school work and life work.  It's a dance that we do...at times letting the other lead; at times following the other. 

The "good mornings" set the tone for the day.  They help direct our energies to the time directly ahead of us which is full of life.

Mr. Casten
Oct. 19, 2012

Copyrighted material of Michael C. Casten

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