The Teacher's Trinket Box

     On the very last day of school of my first year of teaching a kindergarten student had given me a candle in a hot pink box with a ribbon closure. The sweet student said, "Mrs. Jordan, I picked out this box just for you because I know how much you love pink!" Inside was a Yankee candle, a hand-drawn picture and a note from the child, and a touching letter from her parent thanking me for all that I had done. It was a very special way to end my first year. Later that afternoon, I removed the candle to take home, and had inadvertently placed a binder clipped bundle of notes, cards, pictures and other trinkets that were given to me by my students throughout the year inside the box.
     As I began to set up my classroom for the next year, I had placed the box on my shelf (as I just love pink) and forgot about the items inside. Several weeks later I experienced an extremely challenging day of difficult phone calls, behaviors, a child vomiting in the room, and various other minor issues. I was extremely tired, frustrated, overwhelmed and wondered for a moment, "What have I gotten myself into when I decided to become a teacher?" I sat in my chair, and glanced over at my pink box. For whatever reason, I decided to pull the ribbon open and found to my surprise the precious notes, cards, and trinkets from the previous year. My eyes filled with tears as I was reminded of how very fortunate I was to have become a teacher.


     My wonderful intern, Allison, finished her term with me and the class and I passed on the tradition of the "Teacher's Trinket Box" to her. My students and I wrote notes and enclosed a class picture. It was a tradition I was thrilled to pass. 

   

      We all have days when we feel overwhelmed and exhausted and we need to recharge and refocus on our profession. My "Happy Box" as I call it...is so very special to me and it makes the tough days all but disappear. Summers are great for that (although we spend a lot of time in preparation for the following year).

What do you do for yourself to "re-spark" your passion for teaching?   Are there traditions that you pass on to colleagues?   I would love to read any comments on this :)