Full Circle Learning

There are moments in education that feel less like career moves and more like coming home. As I prepare for the 2026–2027 school year, I am filled with excitement and gratitude for a new chapter: moving from teaching kindergarten to teaching second grade — and even more meaningful, the opportunity to teach some of my very own former kindergarten students again.

As a former principal, author, mom, and teacher, I have always believed that relationships are the heartbeat of learning. Curriculum matters. Standards matter. Data matters. But nothing compares to the magic of truly knowing a child — their story, their strengths, their worries, and the tiny sparks that make them light up inside.

This upcoming transition feels especially emotional because I still remember many of these students as five-year-olds walking nervously into kindergarten with oversized backpacks and untied shoelaces. I remember helping them learn how to hold pencils correctly, how to take turns during morning meeting, how to identify letters and sounds, and how to believe in themselves as learners.

And now, next year, I will have the privilege of seeing them again — taller, more confident, carrying chapter books instead of picture books, writing full stories instead of labeling drawings with a single word. There is something deeply beautiful about witnessing growth over time. Teachers rarely get to see the long arc of a child’s journey so closely. This opportunity feels like turning the page of a favorite book and discovering the next chapter is even better than the first.

What excites me most about second grade is the incredible growth that happens in reading and writing during this important year. Second graders begin to see themselves not just as students who can read, but as readers. They begin to understand that writing is not simply forming sentences; it is a way to tell stories, share opinions, ask questions, and make meaning of the world around them.

I cannot wait to help students fall in love with books that make them laugh, think, and wonder. I cannot wait to celebrate the moment when a struggling reader suddenly realizes they no longer need help sounding out every word. I cannot wait to watch young writers fill pages with imagination, memories, and voice.

Most of all, I am grateful for the privilege of continuity. In education, we often talk about growth, but growth is easiest when children feel safe, known, and loved. There is comfort in familiar faces. There is power in hearing a teacher say, “I remember when…” and then watching a child realize just how far they have come.

This move to second grade does not feel like leaving kindergarten behind. Instead, it feels like continuing the journey alongside my students in a new and meaningful way. It feels like full circle learning — the kind rooted in trust, connection, and joy.

As the 2026–2027 school year approaches, my heart is full of anticipation for all the learning, growing, reading, writing, and celebrating that lies ahead.

Thank you for visiting the blog and taking the time to read this post. I hope you found it worthwhile.

Best,

Jennifer