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.