i delight in you

Friends, I don't think I've told you, but I started the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) with Old St. Pat's Church in Chicago back in September. I'm baptized Methodist, but decided I'd like to learn more about the Catholic faith and I love it!

Tonight, I went to mass and the homily was all about how God delights in us. The whole thing was just so uplifting and it got me thinking about how much I delight in the work I'm called to do each day. And in with that being said --

To my former students, my first class, those kiddos who were there as I was finding my way as a new teacher...

I delight in you.

To my students at Heritage, the ones who spent a loop with me for seventh and eighth grade; the kids who were there with me as I learned to teach reading and writing as a Social Constructivist and the Holocaust and Social Justice studies, the students who created projects to raise awareness or money for various causes...

I delight in you.

To Team Heartless, the team who continues to keep in touch, to have a breakfast all together and reminisce on our memories, talk about our present, and dream for our futures...

I delight in you.

To the teachers I work with each day at Emerson: for our planning meetings where we construct meaning of the standards and of our curriculum; where we share stories of our students that surprise and validate the work we do...

I delight in you.

To the new teachers - those in my building, around D100, and beyond: for your passion, your energy, your fresh new ideas, your openness to collaboration, for the friendships you've allowed to grow with me...

I delight in you.

To the teachers who came before me: you know the ropes, you have perspective and a knowledge I can't touch; thank you for sharing that with me, helping me to see things I may not have yet, for being patient as I learned the lessons all teachers are destined to learn...

I delight in you.

To my team who shares an office with me; for the times you've been there to help me solve a problem, just listen, share a resource, or give a hug...

I delight in you.

To the students of Emerson, the ones learning to read with me in Guided Reading, the ones being a little too loud during indoor recess, the ones reading with flashlights under their desks, and sharing their writing at an Author's Chair...

I delight in you.

To the Literacy Coaches: you are the friends at my side who inspire me and teach me and allow me to make mistakes and then show me the way...

I delight in you.

To the teachers in my PLN: those who are real friends I've made in real life, some are friends who I only know because of Twitter and Instagram, some are near, others are far, but all are those who keep me on my toes wondering how I can continue to grow in the company of excellence...

I delight in you.

To my Literacy Idols, Atwell, Fletcher, Calkins, Gallagher, Kittle, Lane, Fountas & Pinnell: I would never have made it to where I am without the work you've done and shared as you came before me. It is my hope that I can share your work with colleagues and deliver the kind of instruction you model, and for that...

I delight in you.

To my blog readers: you come over here to BigTime Literacy where I mostly ramble on about fluffy nonsense, but who, none the less, have become my friends through writing...

I delight in you.

Happy Sunday Friends!

Who or what are you delighting in on this long three day weekend?