Okay, so everyone on Facebook and with the blogs that I follow spent the month of November coming up with list of things they are thankful for. So I decided to jump on the band-wagon and make a list of my own...but I wanted to add a twist! I have been blessed with an amazing schedule this year and kids that make everyday new and exciting...so I wanted to remind myself of all the...
Reasons I’m Thankful to Teach OR 50
Reasons I LOVE My Job
These are in NO particular
order (other than names being alphabetical!) but I felt it would be interesting
for me to write down a few reminders about why I do what I do and why I love
what I do!
Freshman boys never get old
*Making bibs out of papertowels
*Setting the table for me
*Singing Ke$ha and T.Swift (outloud) without
realizing it
The “ah ha” moment when
something you’ve been trying to teach finally clicks with a student
Helping students learn
skills they will use in the real world
Being a morning person…to
the student anyways! This really is a
good fit for me!
“Umm…what should we do
about the fire?”
Erin F. – an amazing desk
buddy and a true role model in more ways than words can begin to describe
(teacher, wife, mom, friend)
Sharing excitement for a
student’s achievement…even if it’s not in my own class
At times being the only
cheerleader a student will ever have
Ever changing acronyms…if
you don’t like one…just wait…in a few years it won’t be used anymore and there
will be a new one to replace it! (IEP,
SIP, PLC, PST, PLT, FCS, FACS, ESL, ELL, etc.)
Being able to update
grades from home…not that I do it often…but I do appreciate having the ability
to do so.
‘11-‘12 8th hour
foods…enough said! But really…any 8th
hour foods!
Jen M. – A wonderful mentor
and friend. Someone I can vent to and
will help me see the light at the end of the tunnel when I get turned around!
Sometimes a little hands on,
arts and crafts time is all a student needs to succeed
Having students seek me out
for assistance…even if it’s not for my class…or even a class in my department!
My ESL
students…Meese...bowing…laughter every day as we try to understand each
other.
Christi P. – A leader taking
our department to the next level. She
truly does have a heart for teaching and helping me become the teacher I’m
destined to be.
Dress up spirit days – pj
day, college night, Fridays, neon night, etc.
Watching students get into
college
BTIO – Real Care baby
project! Sending high school students
home with electronic babies! Fun times!
Kristie W. – My teacher
running buddy! A truly admirable women
who can balance a full life, teaching, benevolence and faith…and make it look
easy!
Having a student come to me
for support; a “can we talk” moment; a confidant
Seeing a student in public
and having them smile at you and introduce you to their parents…and have the
parents smile back at you and say thank you or I’ve heard so much about you
Watching students grow over
the course of a semester or school year
Students who have the
ability to fit into places they probably shouldn’t – cabinets, refrigerators,
lockers…you name a space…they’ll try to fit in it
Courtney Y. – A woman who
taught me how to be an adult. An amazing
hostess, entertainer, and friend. She
constantly amazes me with her memory and thoughtfulness!
Gingerbread house/Holiday
Cup Cake contests
Being able to laugh at
myself…sometimes that’s what it takes to reach a tough kiddo
Friday night lights; high
school musicals; the squeaking of shoes on the basketball court; the roar of
the crowd at a pep assembly (may be wishful thinking…but this year was way
closer!); supporting students as they discover their dreams
Spontaneous karaoke in the
classroom…songs change depending on the class – summer hits of the 90s;
country; R&B…oh the things they come up with
Parent emails thanking
you for helping a student learn (how to help in the kitchen, do their laundry,
etc)
Lindsey Y. – a truly
remarkable teacher. I’m so thankful for
the ideas, concepts, and spirit she has brought to our department. She’s also my wedding planning buddy as our
weddings are 3 months apart next year.
Having co-workers that will
help pick up the slack when you feel like you can’t go on anymore
Student: “Ms. Fedota…I’m
about to tell you something that’s probably not really appropriate to tell a
teacher…but I don’t know who else to tell”.
Me: “okay, just know that if you or someone you know is hurting
themselves or others I have to tell someone” Student: “Oh man…okay…I guess you
can tell…all I was gunna say is that my butt got bigger this weekend” (I
laughed out loud! It was Thanksgiving
and she felt her pants were a little tighter than usual!)
My meetings can’t possibly
take more than 50 minutes (and there’s a bell to tell us when to begin…and when
to end!)
Getting invited to the
bowling team holiday party…each student invites their favorite teacher…and I’ve
been invited for the 3rd year in a row…by a third student!) (yes...I am walking a little taller today!!!)
Having a nurse in the
building when you don’t feel good and just need someone else to tell you you
are sick!
Watching my students grow
and mature each year…they start so little (even the seniors) and watching them
leave my classroom a little older each June never gets old.
Giggles, notes, texts,
decorated lockers, flowers, balloons…you can always tell when a teenage girl is
going to have a good day! (in the same
way though…you can always tell when they aren’t!)
That moment when the quiet
kid FINALLY talks!!! And then doesn’t stop!
When the students help
each other…and you can hear them communicating (and at times using phrases you,
youself, often use!) and working together to accomplish a task! (Comments may be: “that’s not really kitchen
language” or “NO…don’t sit on the counter…you’ll get booty juices on it” or
“soooooo” or “I mean…seriously?” I guess
they really do listen to me when I talk!
The days where you are more
productive then your to-do list has to offer!
I love adding things to a well scratched off list during the day! Such a good feeling.
Teaching something new to
students and then listening to them explain it to others! Oh the joy of them “getting” it!!!
Getting to know your
students on a personal level (not in a creepy way…but in a way that you realize
you have become more of a mentor figure to them)
That moment when you’re
teaching and you realize you need to do something to capture their attention
and bring them back in…so you scrap you entire lesson and teach in a different
way while standing on a table! (Always works wonders…until someone busts you
and tells you you can’t file workers comp for an accident you caused
yourself! Good thing I haven’t fallen
yet!)
Having your students
invite you into their inside jokes! Such
an honor!!!
Learning about all the new
technologies that are out there…snap chat, facetime, remind101, twitter,
etc…and having the kids laugh when I get them mixed up!
Getting to collaborate with
some AMAZING colleagues and try to make things connect across different
classes!
WANTING to continue learning
so that you can be a better teacher for your students! And coming up with new, exciting, inventive,
creative ways to deliver content to your students.
Getting texts from students
that they are REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoying their homework over the
weekend. But seriously…they are having fun…and
sending pictures as proof!
Laughing with your
students so hard that you find yourself with tears in your eyes! It’s great when they can see you are human
too!
I know I am a little last with my list...but I really am thankful each and every day for not only a job as a teacher...but a job that allows me to do something that I absolutely LOVE each and every day! XOXO
