No classes this week, which means my heart is full, my body is recovering, and my ears have finally stopped ringing from forty-seven simultaneous animal noises.
December has a way of doing that—creating a pause. A little space to breathe. A moment of quiet after the joyful chaos. And in that quiet, I’ve found myself reflecting on how deeply grateful I am for this beautifully chaotic work.
Being away from the kids for a few days reminded me just how much hope shows up in unexpected places. Like the kid who began the year announcing, “Boys don’t wear nail polish,” and ended it by giving me detailed manicure advice like she was running her own tiny salon. Growth and customer service. December miracles are real.
Joy, I’ve learned, sometimes looks like a pollinator memory game. Somehow, a deck of bee cards turned a room full of exhausted K–2 gremlins into laser-focused scholars. There’s nothing quite as humbling—or joyful—as realizing a stack of cardboard insects has more classroom management power than you do.
Peace doesn’t always arrive quietly. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of emotional wildfires, alongside coworkers who jump in with you and say, “Yep, we live here now.” The kind of colleagues who make even the hardest moments feel shared. That kind of solidarity is its own form of peace.
And love? Love is realizing that our entire job is basically teaching kids to use their imaginations as a climate superpower. We’re not just talking about recycling or pollinators or ecosystems—we’re helping children understand that caring for the planet is a story they already know how to tell. One rooted in curiosity, empathy, and possibility.
This time of year invites us to notice what sustains us. For me, it’s the glue sticks and glitter explosions, the big feelings and bigger questions, and yes—even the repeated request, “Can I roar again?”
So here’s a cheer to a week without classroom chaos. Without glitter in my pockets. Without anyone roaring at full volume three inches from my face.
But also… I kinda miss them.
Next week, we’re back to the climate chaos—with hope, joy, peace, and love leading the way.