The year I got my pug, Maggie, I brought in a bunch of photos of her to put in my classroom.  Just seeing her sweet face cheered up my day.  I figured that maybe some of my students would feel the same way, so I decided to invite them to bring in photos of their pets. That's when the infamous "Pet Wall" was born, and it's been going strong ever since!
      Each year, the students bring in a photo of their dog, cat, fish, hamster, or any other pet, and add it to the wall.  The photos stay up all year long, and I even keep them up from one year to the next.  The kids just love looking at the pictures!  Sometimes they'll notice an old student of mine who is up on the wall that they know, and it brings a smile to their face.  Often I have a sibling of a new student, so when they arrive in my room, there is already a picture of their pet on the wall-they love that!
     Last year, I had a student bring in a picture of a dog.  I could tell that the picture came from the internet, yet I heard her telling the other students that it was a photo she took of her dog.  I spoke with her later and she told me that it really wasn't her dog, but that she wanted a dog so badly that she pretended that it was hers.  This opened up the door for the two of us to have an amazing conversation, and I told her that if the picture of this dog made her happy, then she should put it up on the wall, but I also encouraged her to tell the class the truth (with me by her side).  She was so brave as she spoke with her classmates, and they, in turn, were empathetic to her deep desire for a dog, and they seemed to understand how she was feeling.  The class also appreciated her honesty and they knew how hard it was for her to admit that she had been lying.  That picture remains on my wall today, and it reminds me of the valuable lessons we all learned that day.
     The Pet Wall- it's such a simple thing, yet it brings so much pleasure!

Enter Maggie....

     It was the summer of 2006, and I had dog fever.  A few months earlier, my family had gotten our sweet pug, Maggie.  I was never a dog lover... until Maggie.  There was something about her.  She just melted me, and she has been my loyal friend and companion ever since.  It was a no-brainer that my door would have a dog theme that year, and that Maggie would make her first appearance!  She has been on every single door since The Dog Year, and I'm sure she will always have a special place on my door in the years to come.
   

The Dog Year- Maggie's Debut on my Door

     The year I got Maggie, I was just so genuinely excited about absolutely everything that she did, that I would bring in a story about Maggie every day.  The kids would love to hear about her, and I think they felt like they were getting to know things about me on a new, personal level.  Every sentence for our spelling test would involve Maggie, and somehow Maggie would show up in countless math word problems.  

     That year was when my classroom pug collection started.  My students would surprise me with pug calendars, pug statues and pug ornaments for the holidays.  We had quite a few "Maggie" stuffed animals which we used during our "class meetings".  We would pass the stuffed Maggie around, and only the person holding her was allowed to speak.  She became a part of our classroom culture, and she's been an integral part of it since.

The Real Maggie xoxo

          When I went to school, my teachers believed that, "You should never let the students see you smile until Christmas."  My philosophy is the exact opposite.  I want my students to get to know me as a teacher and as a person - the sooner, the better.  I want to build up a rapport with them and gain their trust.  I want them to know about my family and I want to hear about theirs.  When we truly get to know each other, we become invested in each other.  I don't want to let them down, and they don't want to let me down.  That's when I find the greatest learning takes place.  It's all about a genuine respect.  I'm not sure how to be a teacher without that mutual respect.  It must be very difficult and extremely lonely.

   

The Crayon Year- Colleen and Me

    There have been only three years in my career that I have worked with a co-teacher.  Those were three of the most difficult years for me.  I was extremely nervous to share my classroom- and students with someone else.  I was afraid that if I had to "share" my students with another teacher, that I wouldn't be able to establish the same bond with them that I had in the past.  I was also pretty set in my ways in terms of my classroom management routine and my teaching approach.  I liked to be in total control in my classroom.  How was I ever going to relinquish power to another teacher?
     Fortunately for me, my first co-teacher, Colleen, was willing and able to allow me to do "my thing" while at the same time managing to fully incorporate herself into our classroom community.  Colleen taught me so much that first year, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work so closely with another educator.  She opened my eyes up to some of the many needs of our children with learning disabilities that I may have overlooked without her.  I learned to be an advocate for these children and to fight for their rights within a school setting.  She taught me how to differentiate instruction in a meaningful way for all of the students, and it was just great to have a co-teacher to share the many responsibilities and many laughs we had throughout each day.  That year, I learned that I could step back and allow the students to experience curriculum through someone else's eyes.  I wasn't losing control of my classroom, I was gaining insight and a new perspective, and so were our students.  It was a wonderful experience for me and I truly evolved as a teacher during those years.
     Over the past ten years, Colleen and I have become good friends, and we both have a mutual respect for each other both personally and professionally.  I am grateful that she had the patience to put up with me and to allow me the time and space to acclimate to this new and challenging experience.  I'm sure it wasn't easy for her to come into my classroom as a co-teacher and feel like it was just as much hers as it was mine.  Looking back on it now, Colleen was a saint, and she even let me decorate our classroom door by myself.  It was a gift to work with her.  xoxox

     Yesterday, I wrote about the many wonderful notes I've received from my students over the years. Today, I'm writing about the one note you never want to receive as a teacher...

     I have received three notes in my career from very different little girls who have written that they wished I was their mom.  That's pretty deep.  Children often "love" their teacher, but I have found it rare that they connect school to home, and compare their teacher to their mom.  The three girls that have said this to me all expressed that their moms didn't have much time for them and didn't listen to them.  All three girls were emotionally needy and often displayed attention seeking behavior.  It broke my heart.  All they really wanted (and needed) was love and time.  I tried to give them as much of both as I could during the year I had each one of them, but in my heart, I knew it would never be enough.

   

One of many portraits I've had drawn for me over the years!

     There are not many professions in which you can say that you receive love notes from your "clients" at work every day.  That's one cool perk about being a teacher.  
     Children love to write notes and draw pictures for their teachers.  The pictures are so sweet, and their words are precious.  Each little written gesture is a true gift, and these notes certainly come from the heart.
    A few years ago, I decided to put a little wooden "mailbox" on my desk.  I explained to my students that if they ever had something to tell me that was difficult to say, they could write me a note and put it in my mailbox.  They also knew that if they wanted to tell me something, but I was busy during the school day, they could write to me, and when I had a moment, I would call them over and talk to them.

     Students would write to me to tell me that they needed their seat changed, or if someone was bothering them on the bus.  I have gotten little notes that told me that they didn't understand the math or that their dog was sick.  I've gotten countless notes from students just saying hello to me.  Whatever the notes have said, this little mailbox has opened the door for so many meaningful conversations with my students.  When I take a moment to talk with them about something that is on their mind, they know that I care about them and that I hear them and will do whatever I can to help.

     I found the above note in my mailbox after two of my students had an incident at recess.  They were both very angry, and it got physical between the two.  Although I spoke with the girls about what had happened, they both had a difficult time expressing themselves because they were still so angry.  When I found this letter in my box later in the day, it was pretty remarkable.  This 9 year old girl was able to write down her feelings, her desire to talk about it, and her apology for not doing the right thing.  Our conversation after I received this note was incredibly genuine, reflective and productive.  It was pretty powerful.

A note to me written by a student who had a very difficult time trusting his teachers.
This note has been hanging on my refrigerator since the day I received it.  It meant the world to me.  

     This year, I read about another teacher who put out little papers that said, "I wish Mrs. _______ knew..."  These papers were specifically intended to reach the students who had things going on in their home life that they might want to share with their teacher.  I decided to give it a try.  The response was mind blowing to me!  I thought I knew my students, but there were so many things that they shared with me that I had no idea they were going through.  They opened up in a way that made them so vulnerable- it truly humbled me.  The conversations that I have had with each student after he/she trusted me with such personal information were just so special.  It was as if, in that very moment,  our relationship had gone to a deeper, more meaningful place.  They were able to trust me, and I never judged them or looked at them differently.  I just reassured them that they were going to be ok and that I was always there if they needed to talk.  And a hug never hurt!

This student had the guts to tell me that her parents were separated.  It was the first time she ever told anyone.

     Of course, on most days I get the most adorable happy notes!  Even after all these years, they still brighten my day!

       

If this doesn't make your day, nothing will!

I could wallpaper my classroom with all of the pictures of my dog, Maggie that I've received over the years! I love them all.  xoxo

     Some letters, like the one below, are written by the children at home, and they put a great deal of time and thought into writing them.  I have saved every one of those extra special notes.  They bring me great joy to know that at one moment, I was someone special in another person's life.

A note from a very special student.
I love how shocked she was that I was related to my son, Tommy (who was her friend).
Lol!

xoxo

Looking proud in my fish dress!

     I remember shopping in Marshalls and seeing this dress like it was yesterday - the fish dress.  I HAD to have it.  It was June, school had just ended, and I was catching my breath from a long, exhausting school year.  Usually, the theme for the following year's door comes to me in July while I'm relaxing on the beach and my head is clear and open to new ideas.  Not that year, however- that fish dress immediately became the inspiration for my new theme.  I loved the fish door.  It was bright and festive, and each fish was unique and especially made for each student.  We played fishing games, ate Goldfish Crackers and Swedish Fish, and my bulletin boards were exploding with everything under the sea.
     This was the year that I realized that wearing an outfit that matched my theme on the first day of school was meaningful to my students...

     It was May of that same school year.  I was sitting in a room full of teachers grading the N.Y. State ELA Tests.  There was an essay on that year's test that asked the students to write about someone who had given them good advice.  As we were grading this essay, I heard a group of teachers across the room trying to decipher a child's handwriting and they were having a really tough time.  They just couldn't understand what this child was trying to express.  They read off a word or two, but nothing that made any sense.  All of a sudden, I heard one of the teachers say, hesitantly,  "I think it says that she was wearing a fish dress."  My head popped up and my eyes opened wide.  I walked over to the group, and sure enough, it was written by my student, Omar.  He did not have a good grasp of the English language at that time, and his handwriting was very difficult to figure out, but I could read his entire essay. Sure enough, he wrote his essay about me, and wrote about the day he met me when I was wearing my fish dress.  It was the sweetest essay I had ever read.  From that moment on, thanks to Omar, I have always worn an outfit on the first day of school that matches my theme.  I wear it on the first day of school, and the last day of school, and my students love it!  It's the little things that make a difference... like a fish dress.   xoxo

The Race Car Year

It was my fourth year teaching fourth grade when I really started to embrace the classroom theme idea.  I decided to create a race car door with a handmade, glittered race car for each student.  The sign above the door read "The Road to Success Starts Here".  Unfortunately, I only have one photo of that door, and it isn't very good.   My door theme would begin to "enter" my classroom that year.  My bulletin boards all reflected the race car theme, as well as my nameplates, notepads and stickers.  My first week activities revolved around the theme, including a bunch of really fun learning games involving cars.  I remember buying a ton of Matchbox cars at a garage sale that summer and using them for so many activities.  The kids loved it!

Race Car Games!

The first week of school is always an exciting and often frightening time for students.  Walking into a classroom that is filled with activities that they can look forward to and enjoy always makes the year start off on a positive note.  The sense of community in our classroom grows so quickly as the students and I laugh and play and get to know each other.  Nearly every activity that I plan for the first week of school makes the children think, analyze, or communicate either verbally or in writing.  Ultimately, they are learning ~ despite all the fun!

Alfred's Bear-Proudly displayed in my room for the past 16 years.

     The holidays are always a special time for teachers, especially when we receive precious gifts from our students.  For me, this small stuffed bear has always been one of my most treasured gifts...

     I remember being in my classroom the day before the holiday vacation.  My students were coming in, all bright-eyed and excited for Christmas.  Some of them were giving me gifts, and I was opening them with a big smile on my face and lots of hugs.  It's always a pretty chaotic morning in my classroom on the day before vacation.  All of a sudden, I noticed Alfred standing by my desk watching the commotion.  Alfred was a fifth grader, and was my student the year before.  He was a very quiet, kind boy, and a great student.  Alfred had come by my classroom to bring me a gift.  I had never received a gift from a former student before, and I could tell from the look on his face that he couldn't wait for me to open his present.  I carefully and excitedly opened the gift that Alfred had obviously wrapped by himself.  Inside was a little black bear stuffed animal.  Alfred's face lit up when I opened it- he was so proud of this little bear!  It was then that I read the card he had attached.  It said the following, "Dear Mrs. Monks, I wanted to get you a present so bad last year, but I wasn't able to. But this year, I could!   You are the best teacher ever.  Love, Alfred."  
     I can't even begin to express how humbled I was at that moment.  To think that this precious boy thought about me and chose this gift especially for me just filled my heart with such joy.  He told me that he had been thinking about getting me a gift this Christmas ever since last Christmas.  The joy in Alfred's eyes as he watched me open up his gift will be something that I will always hold dear to me.
    It was 16 years ago that Alfred walked into my classroom and showed me, in that moment, the true meaning of Christmas, and I have never forgotten it.
   

   
     As a teacher, you're not supposed to have any favorites,  but over the years I have had so many students that have left a deep impression on my heart, and Abigail is one of those students.  I guess I can call her my very first favorite...
     Abigail was in my 2nd grade class in Norfolk, Virginia in 1989.  I was a very young, very new teacher, and I guess you could call those first classes of mine my "guinea pigs".  Abigail was the first student I had that reminded me of myself as a student, and I felt an immediate connection to her as a person.  She was sweet, kind, hard-working and always wanted to please me.  She also happened to have blonde hair and light eyes- just like me.  I never wanted to let her down.
     There are people that come into your life that never leave you, no matter how far you move away...   I remember praying at night that one day I would have a daughter like Abigail.  I just loved her! And when I met her younger brother, Daniel, I wished I would one day have a Daniel, too!  He was just as sweet as Abigail was!   Abigail's family was one that I admired and strived to emulate one day when I became a parent. Abigail's parents, Mr. and Mrs, Garrett were kind and generous with their time and thoughtfulness.  They would do whatever they could to not only help their own child, but any other child that needed help.  They were good people, all four of them, and they made me feel good just being around them.  That stuck with me.
     On the day that my daughter was born, I remember looking into her eyes and thinking to myself, "I got my own sweet Abigail!".  And when my son was born, a few years after I had moved away from Virginia Beach, I thought about Daniel, and how I was so incredibly blessed to have had my son.  I hoped and prayed that I would do a good job raising both of them.  As a mom,  I always strived to be kind, caring and generous of heart,  just like Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were in my memories of them.  Fortunately, my now grown "babies",  Becca and Tommy,  far exceeded any dreams I ever had as a young teacher about what my own children would one day be like.  I often wonder if the influence that Abigail and the Garrett family had on me way back in 1989 played a small part in the wonderful people my children have grown into.  xoxox

That's me with Abigail (far right) way back in 1989!

     I still keep in touch with my Abigail.  She's a mom herself now to 3 beautiful children!  She sent me the above picture just recently through Facebook with the following message:

Decorating the Christmas tree with my family tonight and came across this ornament. "Mrs. Monks' 2nd Grade 1989". ❤️❤️

She kept the ornament I made her all these years.  xoxoxoxo

     The most favorite ornament on my teacher Christmas tree is Michael's....

     I will never forget the day Michael came to school with a small gift bag in his hand.  Michael was the best- sweet, smart, kind - I just loved him!  He stood there as I opened up the bag to reveal a handmade egg ornament with a nativity inside.  Sadly, the egg was totally squished- I couldn't even see the nativity at all.  I tried to "fluff it up" so I could figure out what it even was, saying to Michael, "Oh. Michael, did you make this?"  That's when his precious eyes looked up at me, said 7 words, turned, and walked away.  "I sat on it on the bus."

     PRICELESS!  I just laughed.  He was so cute!  I think of Michael and that story every single year as I put his ornament on my tree.  Michael has since graduated from college and is all grown up.  I only wish he knew that he is still putting a smile on my face all these years later.  xoxo

     A few years ago I noticed that my family Christmas tree was becoming inundated with teacher ornaments.  Each one was so special to me, and I couldn't imagine not hanging them, but they really were taking over our tree!  I decided to put up a second tree- my "Teacher Tree" - perfect to display all of the ornaments my students have given me over the years.  

           It brings me such joy each year as I place each ornament on my tree.  I have ornaments from children who were in my class over 25 years ago!  The above ornament is from a very special student, Lori.  Every single year I think of her and I can't help but smile when I think of the sweet, little 10 year old girl she once was, and the beautiful woman she has become.  It warms my heart!

   
     I also love when I get an ornament from a student that goes with the class theme.  I have ornaments from so many themes, including one from the penguin year, the lighthouse year and the fish year!

   

     There are so many days when I feel overwhelmed and exhausted by my work.  The moments I have that remind me of why I do what I do are so meaningful to me.  Taking a moment to think of my former students always inspires me to keep on going and to do my very best for each child that I am blessed to teach.

The next few years of teaching, I continued to create doors, and like the Jukebox Door, they were fairly simple.  By my second year, I began to incorporate first week activities that went along with the theme.  It has been the excitement of my students that has encouraged me to continue to add to the complexity of my classroom doors and the quantity and variety of activities I would prepare for the first week of school. I have learned throughout the years that it's often the most simple things that the students love and remember.  A happy door, a fun activity, a secret homework surprise...  these are the things that build excitement and anticipation for school.  My students always look forward to coming to school (at least during the first week!) because it's always fun and exciting as we begin to learn and get to know each other.  The heavy teaching can wait a few days, and building a strong sense of community and a positive environment for learning goes a long way in terms of classroom management.

  The Baskin Robbins Year-22 Original Flavors

    The Movie Theater Year-

(4th grade was moved out of Southdown School 

   and into Woodhull Intermediate School.  I worked there for 10 years.)

     My first classroom door was created way back in 1999.  I decided to go back to teaching after spending 7 years at home raising my 2 children.  I was offered a 4th grade position at Southdown Intermediate School in Huntington, NY.  I was over the moon with excitement!  There was just one problem... my daughter, Becca would be entering 4th grade at Southdown School as well that year.  I was very hesitant to work at the same school (and in the same grade) as my daughter.  I knew I would be teaching some of her close friends (whose parents were my friends).  With Becca's approval (she was excited!), I decided I would give it a try.  If it didn't work, I would transfer out of Southdown.
    What started out as a scary venture turned into one of the greatest experiences in my life.  Because I was teaching my daughter's friends and my friends' children, I knew that I had to give 110% every single day- and I did.  I treated each child as if he/she was my own.  I raised the bar for myself as a teacher, and I haven't lowered it since!

     The Jukebox Year- Each child's name was written on a shiny CD.  I made the jukebox myself and added some music notes.  Although it was fairly simple, I still love that door and the memories it brings back to me!

     I actually started decorating doors when I was staying at home with my two children.  Both of them had July birthdays, so I would spend my summer evenings creating large figures to hang on our front door to welcome the kids to their birthday parties.  I found it to be so relaxing, and a way to express my creativity.  Little did I know that I would spend every summer creating a special door to welcome my future students!
     These doors provided the perfect background for party photos.  I would take a picture of my son or daughter with each guest in front of the door, and include this picture with the thank you note we sent.  So cute!

A few shots of some of the birthday doors...  

Unfortunately, I wasn't a very good photographer, 

so they are very difficult to see.

The Aladdin Door

The Magic Party

In Front of Tommy's Pirate Ship

The Tea Party

Becca

Group Shot

Under the Sea 

Under The Sea Walkway 

There were fish lining the driveway, too.

The following is an article that was written a few years ago for my district's website.  It gives a good background to who I am, where I came from and my feelings about teaching.

She Was Born to Teach

Patrice Monks is a natural in the classroom. Watching her work with fourth graders at Woodhull Intermediate School is like seeing poetry in action. A sense of grace and dignity pervades every aspect of her presentation. Her professionalism, charm and tenderness creates a type of choreography that is hard to put down in words

“I wanted to be a teacher since the day I was born,” Ms. Monks said. “I never wanted to be anything else.” She played “teacher” every day after school for years as a little girl, dreaming of the day she had “real” students.

She began teaching second grade in 1987 in Norfolk, Virginia. “I loved it,” Ms. Monks said. She proudly recalled receiving the Sallie Mae Award for Excellence in Beginning Teaching after that first year. She was named Teacher of the Year after her third year there, becoming a member of Norfolk’s All-City Teaching Team.

Ms. Monks graduated from Stony Brook University, majoring in child psychology and sociology and later earned a degree in teaching at Kean College in New Jersey. She obtained a master’s degree in elementary education at Adelphi University.

After giving birth to her daughter, Becca in 1990 and to her son, Tom in 1992, Ms. Monks spent the next seven years at home raising the two children. As the youngsters made their way through Jefferson School, Ms. Monks became involved with the PTA, eventually serving as its vice-president.

“Both of my children went through Huntington schools,” she said. “It was an amazing experience to be in the same school with them and to teach their friends.” Becca graduated from St. Anthony’s High School and is now a sophomore at Loyola University in Maryland. Tom is a senior at Huntington High School.

Ms. Monks’ career as a Huntington teacher began in 1998 when she was hired as a long-term substitute teacher for a sixth grade classroom. She moved to the fourth grade level the following year and stayed there ever since. “I adore 4th graders,” she said. They are so enthusiastic about learning. Seeing the world through the wondrous eyes of nine year olds every day keeps me young at heart.”

“Patrice Monks is one of the most dedicated and inspirational educators I have ever come across,” Woodhull Principal Jarrett Stein said. “Her ability to get through to the most difficult students is a testament to her patience and perseverance. Her former students and their parents still visit her on a daily basis and thank her for everything she has done for them and this district. She is an invaluable member of the Woodhull family and we’re proud to call her our colleague.”

Teaching is more than just a job for Ms. Monks. It’s a real calling. “My philosophy is simple; provide an environment where students feel comfortable, excited about learning and accepted for who they are and they will flourish,” she said. “I strive to get to know as much about each student as I can. I talk one-on-one with each child on a regular basis to get to know how they are doing. My hope is to build a relationship that both of us value. Every child that I have ever taught will always hold a special place in my heart. We have shared a part of each other’s lives and I feel blessed that I have had the opportunity to share in that.”

Keeping learning fresh and fun is important to this Huntington teacher. “Every year, my class has a theme,” Ms. Monks explained. “In September, I decorate my door based on that year’s theme and we spend the first week of school doing activities that go along with the theme. The seniors that are graduating this year were my ‘Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream year’, and this year was a circus theme. If you ask one of my old students what their theme was, chances are they will remember with happy memories. Many students will help me to come up with a theme for the next class.”

A classroom has to be fun for a teacher to be effective. No one believes that more than Patrice Monks. It’s not only important for the students, but for their teacher, too. “There is not a day that I go to work that I don’t laugh,” she said. “No matter how difficult things are going for me in my life, my students always help me put things in perspective and bring a smile to my face - always.”

The Woodhull School family is important to Ms. Monks. Everyone knows that. It’s obvious. She works hard for her students and is constantly coming up with new ideas. “Every year I do a special project with my class,” she said. “One year, we put on a Revolutionary War play, another year we put an ad in the newspaper asking people in our community to write us letters with ‘life lessons’ in them. A favorite project was our ‘Pay It Forward’ experiment.”

It’s a tradition for Ms. Monks to create a “yearbook” for each of her students near the close of every school year. “These books are precious to me,” she said. “They are filled with hundreds of photos and memories of they year we spent together. I often take them all out, thumb through them and remember all of the wonderful memories I have of my students.”

She’s not only popular with students and their parents, but with her colleagues, too. “Patrice Monks is one of the teachers every parent wants their child to have,” said Maryann Sacher, a retired Huntington teacher who worked alongside Ms. Monks for many years. “She is very popular with parents, children and her colleagues. What is unique about Patrice is that her classroom and her teaching reflects her concern for each and every child and her enthusiasm is beyond measure.  Her creativity is reflected in her presentations to her students and learning becomes a joy to all.  Everyone should have a little Patrice Monks in them because the world would definitely be a better place.”

“I love when I see or hear from my old students,” Ms. Monks said. “I love to know what they are up to and how they are doing. Often they will come back to Woodhull to visit me or send me an e-mail. When they do, it absolutely makes my day!”

The veteran faculty member makes each day count for her students. Lessons are planned to perfection. Learning is made fun. Students grow in knowledge and confidence. The youngsters look forward to coming to school.

“When a student leaves my class at the end of the year, I hope they always remember to hold their head up high, have confidence to stand up for what they believe in and know that they are truly special,” Ms. Monks said. “Because they are.”