Today, happy tears flowed down my cheeks. This was definitely connected to the call I had just received from a former parent, whose child was in 3rd grade and whom I had taught in Kindergarten and 1st grade. So yes I had stopped being his teacher going on 2 years now and I am cities and schools away, but I was nowhere near forgotten.
My phone buzzed, not once but twice, sadly I didn’t hear the buzz and would only minutes later, see the missed calls and call back.
And boy was I thrilled hearing what this mum had desperately wanted to share.
“I was working from home today, she started, and I was listening in on a class presentation your son was having virtually (most of my parents refer to my students as my kids) on a historical American figure. I can’t remember who exactly, she added, but it was so well done. His teacher went on to give him compliments and praise the quality of his presentation, content and all. And he goes, “excuse me, excuse me, you shouldn’t be praising me, you should thank Ms Ene who taught me all these.” “At this I got goosebumps”, she remarked. I was teary eyed and I said so. I could picture him calling his teacher’s attention. I was proud of the confidence, I was grateful for the affirmation and I was thrilled that what I did years before still lingered, still inspired, still fed into my student’s (son’s) learning.
It’s always been my dream and aspiration that every child I teach will leave my room with people skills, great confidence and an enduring love for learning. If this doesn’t say that my aspirations came to be, then I don’t know what else will. Now I see that being accused of being extra and over the top in my classroom, is not such a bad thing after all.
My big takeaways
✔Relationships Matter-relationships with students that say “I care and want you to succeed,” and relationships with parents that show their children matter to you.
✔Being "extra” in lesson planning and delivery is okay as long as the goal is to engage and equip your students.
✔Be intentional about equipping your students with tools and skills needed for life and learning-start early.
This call made not just my day, but my month! #teacherjoys (12/15/20)
P.S. I am famous hahahahah
P.P.S I get messages from parents of my children (former students) of amazing things they are doing and have become and trust me when I say, proud teacher is a phrase that doesn’t quite describe what I feel.
#RelationshipsMatter #Highexpectations #EngagingClassroom #LifelongLearners #OneteacherOneclassroomatatime
