Teachers everywhere are ready to take back the reins and many parents are ready to say, "Tag, YOU are it!" Yep, it's a new year and a new chance to make a difference. We have in front of us 180 fresh new days in which to inspire, create, grow, and share! I know I've written about this before, but I love a new year!! Today I attended our district teacher-back-to-school gathering. A portion of the keynote speaker's message focused on the importance of building relationships. That and a conversation I had recently have me thinking about past students, namely those who keep in touch. Why do some students reach out and stay in touch? Why do some former parents still share their child's successes and milestones with me? Rewind about a week and I was at a business dinner with my husband as he attended an out of town meeting. One of the other spouses (in this room of 250 people) was a recently retired teacher, Amanda. Of course, she and I found each other and struck up a conversation that lasted most of the night. Somehow the conversation rolled around to keeping up with past students. I commented that I've had several past students come back to say hello, and even a few who seek out opportunities to come back and help in my classroom. "Wow, you really had an impact on those students!" Amanda exclaimed. That has me thinking. Two days following that dinner, I walked into my school a few days before school started to find a colleague and her daughter (a former student) walking out. We shared hugs and a quick conversation to catch up—college successes—followed by more hugs and promises to keep in touch. {Way to go, Kaitlyn!} That has me thinking. A few weeks ago a former student reached out and asked to come in and help me set up my classroom during the summer. She's not an educator but a nursing student. She was willing to give up her time to come and help out. This same former student made time to see me last summer and again at Christmas break when she was home. This is a student from a dozen years ago! {Thank you, "MY Natalie!"} That has me thinking. Tonight a former student shared her summer teaching experience and how it's impacted her. She is even more strongly called to be a teacher now! {So proud, Maggie!} That has me thinking. Another former student requested to be placed in my classroom for her pre-college education profession program placement. She spent 90 minutes each day during the past school year with my class and made a HUGE impact on my kids! {You totally rocked our year, Lydia!} That has me thinking. Why do those few students (and a few parents) reach out to me? Why me and not some other teacher—or maybe they visit many teachers because that's just the type of person they are. These "kids" come back during breaks from school each year to see me. They reach out on social media, and they drop in when they can. Some even volunteer to help in the classroom or during the summer with set up. Others have come to talk to my class about making strong choices or why academics is even more important that sports. Why? {Thank you, Craig, Maddie, Joe, Sydney, Mira, and more!} Often parents email or text me at times to wish me a happy holiday or good luck for the year. I haven't had their kids in a decade, yet they still make an effort to do this. Why? {Okay, Gwen, we know it's to share a laugh or two remembering anchoring a crooked tree to the wall so it wouldn't fall over on the kids.} Other kids and parents still in my building come down each year when they are at school visiting their child for lunch, for conferences, programs, or open house. They just pop in to say hello. Why? {Thank you, Mehringer gals, Leuck family, Lamont family, Clarks, Mitchelll Family, Hanselmans, and many more!} Perhaps it comes back to relationships. Maybe these students (and parents) felt valued. I hope it's because these kids felt important and loved while in my class. I hope it's because they knew they mattered to me, and mattered way beyond grades and test scores. I hope it's due to the fact that they knew I cared about them, as a learner, reader, writer, problem solver, friend, yes—but also as a person. For some reason, these kids and parents and I connected. I believe the "connection" is actually about taking the time to foster relationships. It's because those kids felt valued, special, loved, and that they truly mattered. And I hope they always remember that I am interested in where they are, what they are doing, and (mostly) HOW they are doing. It's my intense belief that before kids will care, they need to know we care. That's not new, but it is something that gets pushed to the side at times by some teachers and administrators, especially during times of stress, such as at testing time. However, those are the very times when kids need to know we care most. No. Matter. What. Which also has me thinking. Which little darlings this year will be my decade-later-still-in-touch kids? Which families will be those who drop in when their kids are middle schoolers, high schoolers, and beyond? On our wall above the whiteboard we have two very important words--YOU MATTER. It's my privilege to work with this new group of students and parents, and it's my challenge to make sure they feel that these words are alive in our room. I hope they all feel challenged, capable, and creative. Better yet, I want them to know beyond a doubt that they are valued, respected, treasured, safe, and loved. It's my desire that they know they are readers, writers, problem solvers, creators, kind friends, caring citizens, and leaders. I want them to know beyond a doubt that I care. Now. And. Always. I hope teachers everywhere will make the effort to build relationships. Take the time, make the time. It will be worth it to let your students feel loved, cared for, and make sure they walk out knowing YOU MATTER.
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just...meA wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, lifelong learner, educator Archives
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