"Teaching is a calling too. I've always thought teachers in their way are holy -angels leading their flocks out of darkness." Jeannette Walls

  

Godcast

July 4 has come and gone, so the opening of school is not very far away.  I am sure that many teachers are on edge about the opening of school, as I would be if I were not retired.  After all,  schools are not made for physical distancing, and neither are kids.  In fact, I am having difficulty visualizing the way classrooms will look in a few months, and I do not envy the teachers who must monitor and adjust their lessons and their lives.

I am a huge fan of teachers - believing that for most, teaching is a true calling, and that once a child is in their classroom, that child will forever be "one of my kids."   I applaud all that teachers have done during the pandemic to try to make a kind of routine and normalcy for kids in their classrooms, when nothing could be normal. I further applaud their efforts in creativity with assignments, and making kids feel connected, even though it was through computer learning. I loved reading about the teacher parades through neighborhoods to reconnect at the end of the school year - a special closure that was needed by both kids and the teacher.

I am not sure what will happen with the coming school year, but I am asking all my teacher readers to take a pause to think about all that you have done for kids since the beginning of the pandemic.  Think about what you changed, what you created, and how you became an even better teacher. Bask in that for a few minutes before you begin to worry about the future.

No one knows what will happen, but I do know this.  Just like the quote reads at the beginning of this post,  teachers are angels who will lead their flocks from the darkness to the light, regardless of the situation or conditions.  Please continue to be the best teacher you can be.  Kids and parents are depending on you. 

Good luck.  

As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions. Rittman Publishing, LLC ®

Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school.  if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com  and a company called www.StreamableLearning.com GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 and 2018 (new edition) from The Authors' Zone.Grady also won a 2018 prestigious Moonbeam Award for Best Children's Book with Merchandise.

Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available  www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics. 

I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books.  Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self.  However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired! 

Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom.  Check them out!  http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/ 

Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book.  I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading.  Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com  The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!

 Please like Dede's new page Grady Gets Glasses for updates about her children's book. https://www.facebook.com/gradygetsglasses?ref=hl 

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