Love that teacher...
Some people are just born to teach.
For the most part, my children have been blessed with some amazing teachers. It’s been a honor to work with my kids to support them, even when my kids think that they are being too hard or mean or the work is stupid. However, there is one teacher that, today, solidified her spot as the most passionate, caring teacher, and how awesome is it to say that both 11 and 14 had the opportunity to be in her class.
This year, 11 is wrapping up her 6th grade year; the first of the dreaded middle school years. I remember hating middle school when I was there, but I did enjoy teaching it for 7 years, strangely enough! Anyways, the K-8 district my children attend has a “traditional” education program. This is a rigorous self-contained class that is more challenging than the honors program. Sixth grade is the last year the program is offered, after that students these students typically move easily into honors, often times preforming at a higher level.
We were thrilled last summer when we got notified that 11 was accepted into the program for 6th grade. She was excited, too, mostly because 14 went through the program when he was in 6th grade, and we all loved the teacher. She wasn’t thrilled about not being able to switch rooms and teachers for all her classes, but she knew she had her elective class and lunch to socialize with the other 6th graders.
When open house rolled around just before the start of school in August, I can’t tell you how excited 11 was when she walked into the classroom and realized that this year, the teacher was given 2 rooms. You know, one of those rooms that has a collapsible wall between it and the room next door. Well, going into this year, a new K-8 school opened in the district, which dramatically shrank the enrollment at my kids’ 6-8 middle school. This allowed for the Traditional Education teacher to have two rooms in which they removed the foldable divider, brought in more furniture and provided this group of 19 students a large space. One half was set up in a normal classroom fashion, the other half was set up as a “project room.” And did I mention there were only NINETEEN kids in her class.
It was a fantastic year for 11. She has worked harder than I have seen her in the past, and she would have done anything for her teacher. They did amazing projects and performances, and she produced such high quality work. Then the COVID Closure came. Everyone went into spring break excited for what the last quarter was going to hold only to find out they would not go back this year. 11 had bragged to 14 about all the cool field trips they were going to go on, simply to make him mad because when he had her they “never went on that many trips!” and now there would be no more trips.
In this new setting, 11 loves her live Zoom classes with her teacher and classmates. These class sessions are held twice a week. One is an instructional meeting where the teacher discusses things they have been working on, students share their work, and they do practice work together. The other zoom is a just a fun, class meeting. They have done scavenger hunts, played games, and talked about how they are doing and feeling.
But, you just don’t realize the impact teaching has on the teacher until it’s thrown at you. I know this because I was a classroom teacher for 14 years, and this closure would have devastated me. Teaching isn’t a job. teaching is a character defining, personality trait. It makes up who you are. You never stop teaching, you never stop caring about your “kids”. I am Facebook friends with students I had when they were in 8th grade and are now in their mid-late 20s, married with children of their own! I will always care about them.
My daughter’s teacher is no different. The whole point of my rambling begins and ends with this email that 11’s teacher sent out this morning to her 19 students:
“My students,
I know these last few weeks haven’t been easy. There has been a lot of uncertainty and worry but I am so proud of your flexibility and continued desire to learn and grow.
I look at you and realize you aren’t the same kids that I welcomed into my classroom last year. You’re all a couple inches taller. You have a different haircut. Your style has changed a little as you’ve grown into yourself a tad bit more.
I hope you always knew that I cared; more than you learned how to write a thesis statement and more than you know how to write a coherent essay. Of course, I hope that I prepared you for what’s ahead and made your transition to 7th grade easier, but I could live with not being the best essay-grader or the coolest lesson-giver. I hope, more than anything, that I’m the teacher that prepared your heart. I hope I’m the teacher who helped you handle rejection with grace. I want to be the teacher who was firm but kind. I hope I was the role model you needed.
Today, it’s hard to say goodbye. It’s an adjustment to go from welcoming your face at my classroom door each morning to wondering how you’re doing years later. While I’m sad to see the year end with us apart, I’ll think of you succeeding where you’re at. I’ll think of how you’ve grown and how you’ll continue to do so. And I’ll not only think of how much you’ve learned but also how much you’ve taught me as we’ve grown together.
Love,”
I cried when I read this. I want all kids to have teachers like this. Teachers who know there is more to education than test scores and essays. Teachers who truly care about them and love them. As a teacher, I would have been honored to work beside her as a colleague. As an administrator, I would be honored to have her as a member of my staff and community.
Because of this teacher, my daughter worked hard every day during the school closure, OK not every day she’s 11 so let’s be realistic, but she did her work, she completed projects, she read TWO novels in a digital learning environment because this teacher loves her and believes in her!
To have not one, but both of my children receive their 6th grade education from this amazing woman is a true blessing. I 100% believe that she set up these last two years of success for 14, who is entering high school as an honors student: confident and ready, and I believe that 11 will have equal amounts of success over the next two years of middle school because of what this teacher has given her.
We need more teachers like this. All our kids deserve this.
The lesson here is clear, I don’t think I need to write it out.