It's 4:05 and the day is finally over.

Your room is quiet, and the floor is littered with papers, pencils and probably a few lunch boxes. The sound of a million voices is still echoing in your ears. Your calendar is filled to the brim with observations, tests, PLCs, ARDs, and other acronyms you didn't even know this time last year.

Look around your room. Laugh at the students for leaving their notes on the floor..again.

Pick up the dictionaries they didn't put away and think about all of the learning that went on in your room today. You did that. Don't look at the papers waiting to be graded that are piling up on your desk. Think about all of the knowledge kids are showing you. You did that.

Breathe it all in.

This year feels long on the third Monday of the year, but it will be over before you know it. Some things will work better than you expected, and some won't work at all. Don't beat yourself up for the latter. Never feel bad for asking for help. Everyone was new once. Everyone is rooting for you, especially your students. Don't feel like you always have to be the first one there and the last one to leave. The other teachers in your department will know you're a good teacher without you working every waking moment. The students are learning, and you are responsible for that.

Realize that you are a good teacher even when the students talk in the middle of your lessons.

You are a good teacher when the students pass the test and have meaningful discussions, and you are still a good teacher when the students don't. Trust your ideas. They are good.

Take time to listen to your students and understand them.

You have as much to learn from them as they have to learn from you. Form bonds with the students, and treat them exactly how you wish you had been treated when you were that age.

When someone reminds you how much you make (or really...how much you don't), smile at them and say a silent prayer. When someone comments on how "little" you work, don't take it to hard. They don't see the lesson planning and grading you do over every break or the amount of Sunday afternoons you give up to make sure the next week goes smoothly.

So look around. Take it in.

Pick up another lost jacket, and say a prayer for the owner. There is so much amazing things that happen in your classroom and you are responsible for all of it. Your students will learn. Your students will love you, and you have an incredible career ahead of you.

Just don't take it in too long.

I think you have bus duty that you forgot about...