The 2010-2011 school year started out with a bang. And by 'bang' I mean being told I wasn't technically qualified/credentialed for my current job and, long story short, I'll be going back to school in Spring 2011 to get my Administrative Credential and M.A. Essentially, this new life plan means that I won't be in the classroom as long as I originally envisioned 4 years ago. This is a bittersweet thought, but lately I've been trying to take teaching (and all things life) one day at a time and enjoy people and moments as they come.
Speaking of enjoying people and moments as they come,here's a really sweet anecdote from today:
The setting was Homework Club in my room, per every Monday-Wednesday from 3:00-4:15. About an hour deep into studying for finals and working on his homework, one
of my students, who is also a foster youth, says to no one in particular, "It feels like Christmas!" I sarcastically replied from across the room, "the 85 degree weather reminds you of Christmas how exactly?" He looked pensive for a moment and then corrected me with, "no, I just think this is how Christmas feels. I feel like I'm at home." He smiled, satisfied with his explanation of declaring Christmas in October, and got back to work while I got to thinking:
This is the type of moment I treasure now, but already miss.Will I be able to create 'Christmas' for students in some capacity when I eventually walk away from the classroom teacher role?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
The Gift of Words
Warning: this post is for me. It's for me on those exhausting days when I feel like all my planning, teaching, disciplining,ranting and raving are pointless. It is to remind me of the fact that after a full year of me "all up in their business" my students don't, in fact, hate me.
This post is for me, but I also can't help but want to share it with you.
At the end of last Friday, I was surprised to see a stack of letters on my desk. I think there must have been an assignment to write a thank you letter to a teacher in their gen ed Language Arts class. Their sweet little words brought me the encouragement I needed to motivate me to finish the year well. Plus, they're pretty darn funny.
I transcribed the letters below, with minimal spelling or grammar corrections...
"I am thanking you Mrs.Drummond because you always help me when I need help. You also don't have favorites, you are equal to everyone. And you always don't grade us hard for some of the mistakes on our work that we do. So that's why I am thanking you."
-JW
"Dear Mrs. Drummond, You are the best teacher I ever had because you always know the best thing to do when there is a problem."
-SS
"Thank you for the great things u did for me to be successful in school organization and how to be a good student. Anyways thank u for being my great teacher. bye. PS Happy Mother's Day!"
-DB
"Thank you Mrs. Drummond 4 all the fun this year we had and thanks for your teaching. Mrs. Drummond you will always be my favorite wicked, smart, funny teacher. Thank you and God bless you!"
-CW
"Thank you letter:Mrs. Drummond because she helped me raise my grades and helps me in school. She made school easier for me because she helps me with my homework."
-BT
"Mrs. Drummond is the best math teacher. She helps us and teaches us the fastest and better way. She tries her best for us to pass 7th grade. She is the best teacher that I could ever have. When I am in high school I will not forget the best 7th grade teacher. Mrs. Drummond helps me become a smart person and a better person. She helps me succeed in all my classes."
-NG
"Dear Mrs. Drummond, your the best teacher I had this year. You like to help me and you support me. You helped me when I fall and I love you for being the good teacher you are."
-BF
"To the best teacher in the world: Thank you for being the best teacher in the world. I had a lot of fun in your class. You are always trying to help me with my work. I am going to miss you when I am on summer break. Tell my other teachers that I'm going to miss them too."
-CT
This post is for me, but I also can't help but want to share it with you.
At the end of last Friday, I was surprised to see a stack of letters on my desk. I think there must have been an assignment to write a thank you letter to a teacher in their gen ed Language Arts class. Their sweet little words brought me the encouragement I needed to motivate me to finish the year well. Plus, they're pretty darn funny.
I transcribed the letters below, with minimal spelling or grammar corrections...
"I am thanking you Mrs.Drummond because you always help me when I need help. You also don't have favorites, you are equal to everyone. And you always don't grade us hard for some of the mistakes on our work that we do. So that's why I am thanking you."
-JW
"Dear Mrs. Drummond, You are the best teacher I ever had because you always know the best thing to do when there is a problem."
-SS
"Thank you for the great things u did for me to be successful in school organization and how to be a good student. Anyways thank u for being my great teacher. bye. PS Happy Mother's Day!"
-DB
"Thank you Mrs. Drummond 4 all the fun this year we had and thanks for your teaching. Mrs. Drummond you will always be my favorite wicked, smart, funny teacher. Thank you and God bless you!"
-CW
"Thank you letter:Mrs. Drummond because she helped me raise my grades and helps me in school. She made school easier for me because she helps me with my homework."
-BT
"Mrs. Drummond is the best math teacher. She helps us and teaches us the fastest and better way. She tries her best for us to pass 7th grade. She is the best teacher that I could ever have. When I am in high school I will not forget the best 7th grade teacher. Mrs. Drummond helps me become a smart person and a better person. She helps me succeed in all my classes."
-NG
"Dear Mrs. Drummond, your the best teacher I had this year. You like to help me and you support me. You helped me when I fall and I love you for being the good teacher you are."
-BF
"To the best teacher in the world: Thank you for being the best teacher in the world. I had a lot of fun in your class. You are always trying to help me with my work. I am going to miss you when I am on summer break. Tell my other teachers that I'm going to miss them too."
-CT
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