I get a little sappy around this time of year and I am not ashamed to admit it.
I can be an outspoken critic when I feel I need to be, but I know we have a great district with great teachers and want to highlight some of the good in our schools.
For all you teachers out there tell me a story of a student (no names please) that warms your heart when you think of them and reminds you of why you became a teacher in the first place.
In other words...tell me about the student that makes you get up and go to work everyday.
I am asking because I just got a post from a teacher that made me smile and I want hear more stories like his.
4 comments:
Among the many duties I have at school one of the most challenging is that of safety patrol sponsor. Everyone wants to be the Barney Fife of our elementary school. So many apply but few are chosen.
Each year I try and make sure that I offer a position to a few of the students in our Trainable Mentally Handicapped class. The year before last I had two patrols from that class. One student that came from that class was very outgoing and cheerful so his duty was to open the door to the office and tell each person good morning. I am sure that for his time on duty everyone that passed through the front door left with a smile.
The other student from the TMH class was tasked with setting a good example fro the other patrols and wearing his yellow patrol belt properly each and every day, which he did with pride. At the end of the year I let him keep his belt; he may still be wearing it in middle school.
I still get a smile remembering the pride and honor these two students displayed in doing their assigned job so well.
There once was a football player with a chip on his shoulder. Yours truly called his mother to inform her of the chip and ask her to encourage a bit more cooperation in class. The next day all hell broke loose as the football player in him exploded. A desk was overturned in class and I got the glare from a very pissed off young man. With all the sternness he could muster, he told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was never to call his mother again. I informed him as calmly as I could that I certainly would call his mother again should he give me reason to do so. A very angry young man left class that day, a very angry young man indeed.
The year ended and a new one began. I had the same student in a class that New Year. We worked, learned, and studied together. Sometimes we butted heads and other times things were good. All the while, we continued on our journey of knowledge. One day, we were talking as an informal group and a football player, now a year older, made an interesting comment. This once very angry and rebellious football player said I was one of his favorite teachers. Remembering it still moves me.
There are rewards in teaching that no other occupation can claim. There are moments in teaching that make up for the struggles that come when one "boss" is in charge of a bunch of soon-to-be adults in a classroom everyday. There are moments when all you can say to yourself is, "Wow, I love this job."
This was a great idea April!
Is this the kind of story you are looking for? My 4th graders made this almost 2 years ago. Maybe you've already seen it:
http://learningismessy.com/blog/?p=196
Brian
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