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My Books (1993-2010)

I can’t seem to accept the fact that I will never see all the school resources I collected over the last 17 years. Close to 1,000 books; lesson plans; work samples; cameras; pictures; yearbooks; and countless other treasures that were packed away when my new adventure began. When I moved across the county, I left behind whatever didn’t fit in my suitcase. Housewares and knick-knacks that I don’t even remember. Why is it that my classroom resources are what’s pulling at my heart?

I mourn the loss of my signed copy of the anthology of poetry written by the writing club. Signed yearbooks of days gone by. Memories of students who left this earth much too early. My grief is causing me to question the way we ended up in North Carolina. Should I have been patient and waited for my Colorado certification to come through? Should I have stayed at McClelland long enough to plan out our move? Funny, I find myself questioning my ‘just go for it’ lifestyle because I cannot get to ‘things’ related to work….

They are just things. I made the choice to leave them behind in hopes of getting them at a later time. A disaster did not take them away from me. There were no hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires, etc… In the deepest part of my being I know it is all good and it will all workout. Being the impatient person I am, I want to know, ‘How?’ Every day I have students coming into my classroom to borrow books. They know I can match who they are with a book. Unfortunately, most have read all the books I have based on what they like. They come to me for more and all I can think of is a title packed away out of my reach. This year I have spent over $300 of my own money on books and had a donation of another $100 from a friend. Money well spent. STUDENTS ARE READING!!!

I am not in a position where I can spend any more money on books. Tony is not yet consistently working and due to my late start, I do not get a paycheck in the summer. (My yet-to-be-determined summer job will be a post in the future.) Grants have been hard to come by. Boohoo….Woe is me….Whine. Whine…..ENOUGH OF THAT!

Original writing, photographs, and yearbooks cannot be replaced. However, I have memories that will remain with me forever. Memories of each and every school I worked at; classes I have taught; and students who have touched me. I will hold on to all of that. In the meantime, I will continue looking for grants to purchase books and, with any luck, Kindles. I will think back to my days of teaching in Uganda with little to no resources. After all, teaching isn’t about the classroom of stuff we accumulate, but rather giving kids what they need to go out and make the world a better place. Resources or not, I am confident in my ability to give them the tools necessary to make their world a better place. 

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 17, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    oh Mandie my heart goes out to you because i am a collector of things and i don't know what i would ever have done if i had had to move. Now Wendy is totally different about things she doesn't get attacted to things. Ruth is like me and she has had to move serveral times and then lost so much in the fire. oh at times like this i wish i had laods of money to help you out but i am thinking of you. the positive side i guess is that your family is togather again and you do have all your memories.take care. Love you. Marguerite

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