Parenting Advice From Joy Berry: Back to School—Part One (I Had a Dream)
While I seldom forget a nightmare, I almost always forget a good dream. But such was not the case with a dream that I had the other night. It caused me to wake up smiling, and even as I write this blog about the dream, I find myself with a smile of my face.
In my dream, it was the first day of school and I was a third-grade teacher greeting my new students. The room was beautifully organized and decorated, and I was beyond excited about launching into my “Welcome Back to School” speech. In my dream, I recited it almost word for word as sunlight flooded into the room.
This year is going to be one of the best years in your life. You are going to grow and change in amazing ways that you cannot even imagine. If you’re a bully, you’re going to become a friend. If you’re shy, you’re going to become bold. And if you feel unwanted or unloved, you are going to feel totally valued and loved—because you will be.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve had trouble with school in the past. Those days are over, because you’re going to be allowed to learn in ways that work for you. And if you are having a hard time, you are going to let me know and I am going to work with you until we get you back on track—no matter what it takes.
Learning should be one of the most exciting things that you will ever do, and I’m going to do my best to make it so. Most of the time, you will be having so much fun you’ll forget that you are in school and the days will fly by. And on those few occasions that require actual work, you won’t mind because the rewards that you will reap from your efforts will be well worth it.
Get ready to rock because that’s how you’re going to memorize your multiplication tables. Get ready to play a lot of games because that’s how you’re going to learn things like spelling and language. Get ready for lots of fun field trips and projects because that’s how you’re going to learn science and history. And as for slow, arduous handwriting—get ready to roll because you’re going to learn high-speed cursive writing!
Now about the rules…that will be no problem because all of us are going to make them up together, and all of us are going to help each other follow the rules. In fact, from now on, we are going to act as a cohesive group in which everyone has each other’s backs. From this moment forward, it’s one for all and all for one!
There’s only one thing that I am going to ask of each of you at this very moment, and that’s that you join me in truly understanding the incredible importance of each and every person in this class. Every one of you has been put in this class for a reason, and every one of you has something to give to all of us that no one else can give.
Are you with me on this?
(Resounding clapping and affirmations.)
Okay then, let’s get started!
I love my current job. I really do. I also love the volunteer work that I do in schools all over New York. But sometimes there is a longing to have my very own class again. Is it possible that this will never be more than just a dream? Sigh.
