This job is really hard. People do not talk about that a lot that are not in education, but if you are in education you know it. You have to take work home with you, you have to get up early, there is no 9 to 5 for us. This is around the clock. Many days I spend more time at school that I do at home. As a first year teacher it is even harder. First year teachers are figuring out how to do everything for the first time and that takes more work and often multiple attempts. When hard work goes unnoticed its hard to keep going.
So today I stopped any PD or data reflections to simply say thank you and fill my teachers belly's. Even if you are not getting food at school as a thank you, know your students thank you. Students recognize hard work and do appreciate even if they don't say it. I promise though, the students will say thank you by May so keep going!