Fall is in the air

Call me a big nerd, but I have always loved this time of year. Even as a kid, I remember loving that trip to ShopKo or Kmart (the only choices we had in Brigham) to get those school supplies. There is something great about getting a new notebook, that is full of fresh clean pages and picking out just the right pens (the blue papermates for me, please) and maybe worming my way into getting a new backpack. I remember the anticipation of the new year and the goals that I would set for myself that I was going to achieve such great excellence. I was a teacher's dream student (atleast, now that I actually am a teacher, I dream of having these types of students). I didn't need any treats or silly incentives, I wanted to be the very best in the class because of the sheer competitor in me. I wanted to be the smartest and the most creative and at the first of the school year, I was willing to put the time in to accomplish that. However, as the school year would get going and i would get busy with sports, student government, and friends, I would lose track of that goal. Not that I would let everything slide, but I just didn't have to the absolute best anymore, just one of the better ones. Now that I am a teacher, i still get excited about the sales at the local stores. I rush out and buy new folders, paper, colored pencils, and markers for my classroom. I have hopes and dreams about how great I will teach this year and how much my students are going to learn. They are going to be the best students in the entire district. As the air becomes a little cooler and the leaves start to change color, I can only think of the excitement of the new school year and the dreams of students everywhere as they are able to start over once again. Spring is normally when we think of renewal and beginnings, but for educators, there is something inherently beautiful about the fall.