January tends to be a tough month for teachers. But maybe it's not just teachers.. The short days make it seem like it is always dark. Combining the dark with the cold, it tends to get a bit depressing. The kids are tired of being stuck inside and have enough bound-up energy to power the whole town. The school year seems like it might drag on forever...but yet there never seems to be enough time to get everything done!
I think that most of us can say we are relieved to have January behind us! For my teacher friends out there, I hope this story will remind you how important you are! I know it's exhausting. I know sometimes it seems like you might not make it, but you will! Your students need you. Never underestimate the importance of all you are doing as a teacher.
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Last week was a tough week for me. Coming off of a weekend of grad classes, I was sick, exhausted and stressed. I was having a hard time getting real excited about trying to corral and teach my energetic first graders. They seemed particularly loud and crazy, although I'm not sure it was a whole lot different than any other week! Gotta love first graders in January!
By the time Friday came around, I was happy to have survived and more than excited for the weekend. As I walked my students out the door at 3 o'clock, I gave each of them their normal high-fives and hugs. Most of the kids were bouncing down the hallway, as excited as I was to be free. But as one girl came up for her hug, I noticed that the expression on her face was different. Instead of excitement, there was sadness. When I asked her why she was sad, this sweet girl put her arms around me, looked up into my eyes and said, "I don't want to leave you."
Those six words cut straight to my heart. They cut through my exhaustion and impatient excitement for two days out of the classroom and reminded me again why I teach.
So why do I teach? Of course I like kids, and I love seeing my students learn and grow.
But the biggest reasons behind why I teach are rarely talked about. They are topics not considered in all the talk of standards or teacher effectiveness. Yet, I would argue that they are the most important reasons.
I teach because my students count on me.
My students count on me to be a loving and supportive adult in their lives. For some of them, I might be the only constant one.
My students count on my classroom being a safe place. For some of them, it's the safest place they know.
My students count on me to believe in them and remind them everyday that they matter. For some of them, I might be the only one they hear it from.
My students count on me to love them and be there for them every day.
Teaching is tough. Many weeks it requires everything I have and then some. But as much as I've needed the days away from school, I have a fresh perspective to take back with me tomorrow morning.
All weekend my precious student's sad face and quiet words have been running through my mind, reminding me of why I work so hard at something so often criticized and questioned.
I once again have a fresh resolve to give teaching everything I have, because it is more than just a job. My students are counting on me, and in a world where many of my students have so little they can count on, I refuse to let them down.
And this is why I teach.
I think that most of us can say we are relieved to have January behind us! For my teacher friends out there, I hope this story will remind you how important you are! I know it's exhausting. I know sometimes it seems like you might not make it, but you will! Your students need you. Never underestimate the importance of all you are doing as a teacher.
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Last week was a tough week for me. Coming off of a weekend of grad classes, I was sick, exhausted and stressed. I was having a hard time getting real excited about trying to corral and teach my energetic first graders. They seemed particularly loud and crazy, although I'm not sure it was a whole lot different than any other week! Gotta love first graders in January!
By the time Friday came around, I was happy to have survived and more than excited for the weekend. As I walked my students out the door at 3 o'clock, I gave each of them their normal high-fives and hugs. Most of the kids were bouncing down the hallway, as excited as I was to be free. But as one girl came up for her hug, I noticed that the expression on her face was different. Instead of excitement, there was sadness. When I asked her why she was sad, this sweet girl put her arms around me, looked up into my eyes and said, "I don't want to leave you."
Those six words cut straight to my heart. They cut through my exhaustion and impatient excitement for two days out of the classroom and reminded me again why I teach.
So why do I teach? Of course I like kids, and I love seeing my students learn and grow.
But the biggest reasons behind why I teach are rarely talked about. They are topics not considered in all the talk of standards or teacher effectiveness. Yet, I would argue that they are the most important reasons.
I teach because my students count on me.
My students count on me to be a loving and supportive adult in their lives. For some of them, I might be the only constant one.
My students count on my classroom being a safe place. For some of them, it's the safest place they know.
My students count on me to believe in them and remind them everyday that they matter. For some of them, I might be the only one they hear it from.
My students count on me to love them and be there for them every day.
Teaching is tough. Many weeks it requires everything I have and then some. But as much as I've needed the days away from school, I have a fresh perspective to take back with me tomorrow morning.
All weekend my precious student's sad face and quiet words have been running through my mind, reminding me of why I work so hard at something so often criticized and questioned.
I once again have a fresh resolve to give teaching everything I have, because it is more than just a job. My students are counting on me, and in a world where many of my students have so little they can count on, I refuse to let them down.
And this is why I teach.