Closure

Endings. End of the school year, end of a relationship, end of old ways of being, just endings. Interesting how that shows up in my life.

I got to see how I've avoided endings with my students. I rush them through their final assignment, through clean up, and sweep them out the door without closure. I don't have to deal with saying goodbye. Never saw anything wrong with that, it's just how it was.

Our homework is empowerment/disempowerment. Noticing where we are with that and being at choice. Through this I got to notice the way endings fall in my life, and I realized what's missing.

On Thursday, my students completed their Finals, cleaned up the classroom (vigorously), sat down, with time for closure. A first!

Closure was rich. Looking into everyone's eyes, I shared that it's been such an honor and privilege working with them, watching them grow, take on expanding their boundaries, throwing work at me that was x10 amazing, and giving me the space to teach, thanking them for their generosity and patience. I also thanked them for creating a fabulous student teacher. Her supervisor remarked on how Jenny was a completely different person. Jenny thanked them. They were contribution. Tears rolled down my face, in public, in front of my students - an all time first. We finished with them sharing (write/switch) how each of them made a difference: "I will always remember you for..."

Students who struggled with with me said: "I love you" out loud, promised to visit. I signed Yearbooks, one of my students nominated me for a teacher award, and in my mailbox thank you letters from parents.

Endings