Into the forest

"The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky." Margaret McMillan It is hard to believe that the first week of school was really only 5 days but felt easily like a dozen. It is always an uphill climb at the beginning. Parent night was early this year, Thursday night and it was so hot! It gets really hot only a couple of weeks out of the year in Switzerland so no air conditioning. Everyone was gathered in my classroom and I was beginning my intro-- when the small fan I had brought was suddenly quiet. I scanned the room and a woman shouted out, "It was so loud, I hope it's okay that I turned it off!" I smile and say of course, while inside I'm thinking that my life support has just been cut off and feel another bead of sweat trickle down my back. Back to School Night always feels a bit like a blind date sizing you up-- with me looking into anxious faces hoping the right words are said to ease their worries! My favorite comment this year was, "Is there a time you set aside for the children to brush their teeth after lunch?" Here's to a year of cavity free children! I love the beginning of a new school year-- fresh start! The walls had been painted over the summer, new rugs I carried on the train from IKEA with the bruises for evidence, sharpened pencils, markers, and a head full of new ideas and hope! Teaching is complex and gets messy... but right now it looks like a trail that I am just about to take that I only see the possibilities... a sight that I need to remember even just 5 days in... A card in my box after day one from my principal, "Wishing you an amazing 'walk to the forest' this year!" She had shared with us this idea of outdoor learning with children and finding our way on this journey of growth and understanding. I started thinking about this idea, walking into a forest or wilderness, as I made my way on a trail run on Saturday morning. Just behind my flat is a hill leading to several farms. Off to one side of them is a forest area with trails running through it. As I ran along the trail, stopping to let a couple people on horseback get by, I thought how the beauty, excitement, and unknown of the forest combined with challenges and possible dangers leads us to growth and new understanding. I wondered if joyful learning is a combination of both challenges that bring us to our knees and a desire to be apart of something meaningful. I came to the bottom of the hill stopping to take in this quiet peaceful moment and noticed the light coming through the trees and again was reminded to look up-- I had a moment where I understood why looking for the beauty while climbing our hills gives hope and sends the message that the view from the top will be worth it... I look out through the forest knowing that my little flat is safely on the other side but still find comfort in the sight of a well worn path to lead me along... I head back now feeling the stress and burden of the first week of school lifted and now smile at the voices I heard all week...

"I'm making a flower with square petals. It lives in a very special field. It's called, The Black and White Field." Finding the beauty on a rugged, steep trail---- Blessings!