Moving

I walk into the classroom and see an empty chair at table 2…and I haven’t quite gotten used to it. Throughout literacy, centers, math, and science, there is a presence missing that was once there.

Yesterday, afterschool Tillie and I were doing our usual after school routine of planning and organizing. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I see Christian standing at the doorway with his mom. 

In her hands she holds a piece of paper. I smile and walk over and glance down. The paper is a notification of student moving. I’m completely shocked. Chirstian didn’t’ say anything about him leaving. 

All day we had no idea that this day would be his last. 

“Christian!” I say, “You are moving!”. 

His mom stands quietly next to him, not understanding what I’m asking. We sign the paper and help Christain collect some of his belongings. 

Christian raps his arm around me in a hug. The moment doesn’t seem real. 

“We’ll miss you Christian!” I say. 

“See ya Ms. H!” he shouts with his enthusiastic smile beaming. 

The moment he leaves the tears pour down my face. I’m shocked and I don’t understand. Chirstian is one of the most remarkable and unique children I have ever met. His enthusiasm, his effort, his passion. We were working so hard with him. We had accomplished so much. And now he has left. This is the hardest thing about teaching. You work so hard with a student, you pour everything you’ve got into guaranteeing their success, and then, without warning, they leave, and there’s no guarantee what will happen to him.