Back in June, I went to three ESOL picnics in one week, at all three of the middle schools that I taught in, in my five years of teaching.  I went to them in chronological order, starting with my first school.  That meant that I also drove all three of my commutes in one week.

[I do NOT miss commuting.]

Every ESOL student looks forward to the ESOL picnic for the whole year.  My first year of teaching, my students started asking me about it the first week (or close to it).  I didn’t even know what they were talking about.  It turns out that the ESOL picnic is when the whole ESOL program goes outside for 2 hours and the kids get to do whatever they want (which is usually play soccer or eat snacks).  That’s it.  But it’s oh so fun and anticipated.

At the first ESOL picnic, two students who I taught in 5th grade were 6th graders there so I got to see one of them.

At the next picnic, my 6th graders were current 8th graders so it was fun to see them and to have them meet Ellie.

A few of my 6th graders, now 8th graders, and all grown up!  The boy in the blue shirt told me that he missed me and he missed my class.  I miss him!

Here’s P, who hadn’t changed a bit in two years.

At the last picnic, I was at the school where I taught last year so I knew the 7th and 8th graders.  It was so fun to have them meet Ellie!

My dear student M, who I have written about before.  (She posed us this way!)

My fellow ESOL teachers from last year. 

I’ve never put pictures of my students on my blog before (for privacy reasons) and probably never will again but I just wanted to give you all a taste of my teaching life.  My students were very precious to me and I miss them.  To be honest, I really don’t miss the day-to-day grind of preparation, teaching, and grading.  I love being home with Ellie.  But I do miss those students of mine – the joy they brought into my life and the crazy things they said.  I may forget their names but I’ll never forget them.