Graduates: You'll lead the way!

With a little help from Dr. Seuss, here's my message to teachers graduating today :)

 Today's special,

A happy day,

You’re ready

You’ll lead the way!

With brains in your head

Feet in your shoes,

You’ll lead students

Through classics, news.

You'll use magical books,

and cyberspace,

You’ll meet people,

From all over the place!

You’ll find a way,

To do: Interactive, Guided, 

Independent Reading,

Interactive, Guided, and

Independent Writing

Each and every day!

Sometime in your career

You’ll find a program or book

That doesn’t make much sense.

Some weeks before payday

You may have just 50 cents!

You’ll activate, collaborate, consult, review,

You’ll have consultants and mentors

Who say they know better than you. 

Remember we all have lessons that flop,

Yes we all do!

Students and parents will ‘challenge’ you.

Some administrators will have ideas

That make you ‘stew’.

My advice is:

Focus on students.

That’s what I would do!

With wisdom gleaned from studies,

Strategies from journals, Pinterest, books,

You’ll figure out how to make it work,

When faced with eager looks!

When you find yourself overwhelmed

By the ‘rat race’

Take a walk or read a book

Find some reflecting space

Keep reading, learning:

Children’s, teacher books,

Journals, newspapers, Twitter, too.

Be a ‘critical consumer’ of fads,

But always be open to new ideas

That is what I would do!

So, be off on your journey,

Remembering at least this message

From the end of my spiel! 

Our students forget much of what we say,

But they never forget how we make them feel. 

I’m proud to call you my Colleagues,

I’m honored to have helped with your preparation,

I know that kids will be fine

Under YOUR administration!