Managing my time is hard.
Coming up with interesting, relevant, useful lessons is hard.
Going to meetings is hard.
Filling out paperwork is hard.
I want to do something easier.
I never get to the place where I articulate these things because
So yes, all of the parts of my job make living life hard - as do many parts of many people's jobs. I think it's a sign that something is truly worth doing if it is difficult and we do it anyway, with pride; if we care enough to put in the time it takes to make our jobs satisfying to ourselves and meaningful to others, that is valuable.
And here's the cool thing about those few days when I wake up in a state like this: At least one student somehow rocks my teacher world within a few hours. I've found an anonymous note saying my hair & smiley faces are awesome and that the writer admires my wit. A very reluctant/borderline contentious poetry student got engrossed in putting together a presentation of his Where I'm From poem, asking excitedly if he could use as background the picture of his house he got from Google Earth. A quiet girl made a point of telling me Technology is now her favorite class because I'm teaching it. Another girl whom I had reprimanded for stirring up drama later brought me a Keep Calm button for my bulletin board.
Then today, this exchange happened with a boy who loves the Philadelphia Eagles:
Him - Hey! The Cowboys won yesterday! [pause] I watched the game; I think the Giants are pretty crappy.
Me - I KNOW! It was a terrible game, but it was a win. Now we're tied with the Eagles' record!
Him - Yeah.
Me - But I wore green today, just for you. [I wear black if my team loses]
Him - Oh, and I'm wearing blue! Cool!
....then we have to start class, but that. It's exactly why I get out of bed, and forget about the stupid stuff.
4 comments:
It's the little rewards. They aren't monetary but they're worth so much. Although I'm not teaching anymore, I kept most of my stuff "just in case" as I have that teacher-hoarder thing engrained deep within. I recently found a landscape painting on canvas that a student (a really tough, troubled kid) gifted me (also interesting - I wasn't in the art classroom at that point, I was her work ed teacher) and inscribed on the back, "coolest teacher ever." So, while my aim is not to compete with you for the title, I'm telling you now... years after you drop the bomb on your principal friend, you'll still have that Keep Calm button somewhere.
I have no doubt you are an awesome teacher and your school kids and home kids are lucky to have you. I wake up many mornings with the "i don't wannas" and my job isn't even important (a lawyer fighting over dirt who cares! oh sometimes the people who live there, ok so every once in a while I help someone), so I can't imagine facing rooms full of challenging kids every day!! YOU GO GIRL!
This was a perfect read for me this morning--I've had a little student drama this past week so this is timely.
There's no more rewarding job than changing someone's life, but it isn't the easiest work ever, that's for sure.
Teachers are incredible. I fondly remember my Creative Writing teacher who nurtured each one of us, including a guy in my class named Mike who went on to become a member of Pearl Jam. (Yes, really.)
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