Over the years, I am proud to have become one of "those" teachers. You know, the ones parents request every year. They request you because they have heard great things about you from other parents or your colleagues. Or maybe their child persuaded them that your class is where they wanted to be.
One moment in my teaching history stands out, a moment, out of so many, that I have not forgotten. It was the end of the school year, and I was talking to a student who had "requested" me. She was a bright child, very sweet, always polite.
I can't remember what our conversation was about, but I found myself asking her what drove her to ask her Mom to place her in my classroom. I have never forgotten her answer. It wasn't that a friend or sibling told her that I was a great teacher. It wasn't that she had heard great things about all the fun activities that occurred in my classroom. With a beautiful smile on her face, she said, "One day you told me that I had on a pretty dress!"
Wow! She was referring to a time when she was in the fourth grade. I didn't know her, but as I was passing her in the hallway, I complimented her on the dress she was wearing. I'm not kidding when I say I teared up.
It reminded me why I teach, I teach to make a difference.
If one compliment can make such a difference, imagine what we could do, with the 180 days every year that we teach!
Let them know that they matter! It may not be a big deal to you, but it means tons to them!
I so agree with this. So many kids just need someone to acknowledge them. Every day I have kids that I don't even know come up to me for a hug or to tell me a story or just to say hey because one day I took a second to speak to them or compliment them...or just to notice them. I may be the only one who made them feel special and it only took a second of my time.
ReplyDelete@Becky Absolutely! I know they are glad that you are the kind of teacher you are!
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