When I look back over my K- 12 education experience I am left with a void of good feelings. It is safe to say my experiences would not lead to an afternoon feel good movie. School was not fun and I don't remember many positive experiences. That all changed when I met Mrs. Perkins in 10th grade. This woman single handedly changed the course of my life. She was able to look past the class clown and see potential. She is the reason I became an educator. I want you to think back, what do you remember? If it is a negative experience like mine don't allow that to be the memories your students leave with. If you have wonderful experiences to draw from, use those as motivation to effect your students in the same manner. Look at each student as a work in progress. Some will need a lot of work and some are well on their way to being successful. It is our job to push them all, to mold each one into respectful, intelligent, productive citizens. Be sure you are modeling those same behaviors each and every day. Remember the ones that need our love the most are usually the ones that are the hardest to love. I assure each of you I was not an easy student to love, but one special teacher looked deeper than surface level and she is the reason I am blogging to each of you right now. She is the reason I wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of my students. Be that teacher. Leave your impression on the students you serve and make sure it is a positive one.
I remember my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Anderson. I was so blessed to be in her class. My twin sister didn't have that blessing, though. Her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hall, didn't leave the impact Mrs. Anderson had on me. She was a grandmother-type and loved all her kids the same. I don't recall anything I learned from her that year, but she is the one I wanted to model my teaching after.
ReplyDeleteI remember my fifth grade teacher as well. She (I am sure unwittingly) effectively squashed my inate curiosity for the things around me and my unending questions by calling me a "Nosy Nuisance". I didn't ask another question all year. This one experience has made me try to carefully examine how my comments sound to the student "before" I say them. And to never ever step on childhood curiosity!
ReplyDeleteI love to hear these stories.
ReplyDelete