The top of the classroom computer desk that I use as a podium has been screwed on the wrong way for close to a year now. The truth is, I need to fix it because I stumble over the wheel nearly every day as a result of the short side being where the long side should be.
I'm struggling though.
I'm not struggling to fix my desk because it's difficult to fix (it would only take about two minutes twisting an Allen wrench to fix it) or because I'm low on motivation. I'm struggling because I'm afraid that if I fix my desk I'll lose a happy memory that tugs at my heartstrings every time I use it.
I know. I know. What I just said seems strange, but just keep reading. I'll explain.
An Act of Kindness
I had the privilege of teaching the same group of students two years in a row. So, when the same group of students came back to my room last August for year two, we had already had a year together and established a solid foundation of trust. Fast forward to October. I had just received a grant, and the boxes started pouring in. I was thrilled and so were my students. They wanted to help me unpack all of the boxes and to help me find a home for all of our new classroom materials. I loved their enthusiasm, so I handed them a pair of scissors and we got to work opening and arranging together. One group took on the task of opening and labeling a new set of books. Another group of kids jumped right in putting colored pencils in their brand-new containers. Then, three of my students opened the laptop desk, and they immediately asked if they could put it together. I told them to go for it and went back to work on the other side of my classroom. After my students were finished assembling the desk they asked me to hurry and come look at their finished work. I put down what I was working on and as I reached the desk, I immediately noticed that the top was on incorrectly. I was just about to point out the issue, but then I looked up from the new desk at their faces.
They were SO proud! I mean they were beaming with pride! And I just thought, "Wow, what a sweet act of kindness! What a beautiful gesture. How special it is to have students who want to help my room a great space and even want to build a desk for me to use." So I didn't point out the fact that the top of the desk was facing the wrong way. Instead, I told my students what a wonderful job they did and thanked them repeatedly. They moved on to their next project with smiling faces. I proceeded to stub my toe regularly every time I rolled my desk around my room for the rest of the year, and you know what? I smiled a little on the inside every time. Maybe one day I'll have stumbled one too many times (or break a toe) and finally decide to fix the desk, but I hope not. I hope that day never comes because if I fix that desk, then it will become just a regular, run-of-the-mill desk that anyone can buy. If I fix the desk, it may no longer trigger my happy memory causing it to slowly fade away. I don't care about my classroom looking perfect or everything being in the exact right place. What I care about is that my students feel comfortable in a space they helped create. If you're thinking something along the lines of, "Wow! What a total marshmallow," you are 100% correct. I am a mushy, emotional marshmallow of a human being. I will always be a mushy, emotional human being, and I wouldn't have it any other way. If you're a mushy, emotional human too, you'll want to keep reading - more emotional memory talk awaits you. I'm about to share how I preserve my classroom memories each year.
More Memories
Many people tend to think that elementary students are the only ones making custom pieces of artwork and little handmade gifts for their teachers, but middle school students still do this as well. At the end of this school year, I took down all of the artwork, trinkets, notes, and baubles my students gave me over the course of the school year as well as the class photos I took. I do this every year, not because I don't love the artwork, trinkets, notes, and baubles my students have gifted me but because by May I've run out of room and I know that I'll need more room for the little things next year's students will bring. If you're panicking right about now thinking that I chunked those sweet tokens in the trash, you can rest easy knowing that I did not! (Remember the desk story I just shared? I mean, come on. I would never! How could you even think that?!) Nope, all of my keepsakes went into a hanging file folder labeled oh so simply "2023 - 2024" for the 23-24 school year. *Insert your major sigh of relief here.*
At the end of every school year, I make a file folder and label it by school year. Then I put all of my keepsakes inside it and then add the folder to my filing cabinet. I know that may seem kind of impersonal instead of keeping everything in a decorated box or special colorful binder, but I promise you that isn't my intention The result feels just about as far from impersonal as you can get. You see, by putting all of my keepsakes in a file folder, I can easily flip to the memories from whatever year I choose to revisit and take a trip down memory lane. And every time I open the filing cabinet inside my desk, I'm instantly reminded of just how many wonderful memories I've made with my students. (Although I will admit that I have, at times, opened my filing cabinet for a worksheet and gotten distracted by the fun memories. There are certainly worse things that could happen than getting distracted by happy thoughts though.)
Your Memory-Keeping Methods
When it comes to ways you can hold on to memories, the possibilities are endless and every teacher has their own unique method just like every teacher has their own unique teaching style.
I'd love to know all of the different things you do to preserve the classroom memories that you hold nearest and dearest to your heart in the comments below! Who knows? Your method may serve as inspiration for other teachers looking to develop their own memory-keeping methods. The Best Part
The best part about the memories I get when I look at my desk or in my yearly folders is knowing that every student was a part of what we were doing. My classroom was functioning as a happy unit. Everyone was involved. If you want to make sure that all of your students can participate in every aspect of learning and the classroom experience, check out my post Creating An Inclusive Classroom!
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