Subject: What to expect, What you'll see, and How to feel.
Hey Selfie,
I
know what you're feeling and don't be discouraged. Times are tough, teachers
are tough, and students are even tougher.
No one has the right to judge you nor are you superior to others, but
others have the right to expect more of you than the regular college student. There are no more excuses, no more "sick
days," no more late days. These students depend on you like a infant at
the age of 16. They don't admit it but they expect you there every single day.
They notice when you are gone and notice when you show up early to help them (especially
for their five page essay due the next day). They might not say "Thank
you" verbally but when you walk in the room and they are chunking poems,
making Cornell notes, and buying Post-it notes on their own means a thanks in
itself. The success rate isn't measured
by a number or a product but by the human mind. Much like a priest, a teacher's
results aren't tangible.
You
come in the morning, and the "if you're not 10 minutes early, you're
late" applies every morning. So you get there 20 minutes to the bell, or
earlier, and set up everything you need for the next 7 hours. They trickle in,
most begrudgingly, but they also woke up early to be there. Whether forced or
not, they are there. This is a job, you are working like coworkers rather than
one supervisor over minions. Never get into a power trip. Avoid the teacher's
lounge but never forget others are there to uplift you. Lend an ear, too. By
lunch, you might need to recharge but don't check out. The next few hours need
your humor and enthusiasm , too. Last hour is hard, from English I to Senior
Honors, it's rough. Don't give up. You'll tell them to have a great night and
see them tomorrow but really you'll see them in their writing you grade every
night. You learn so much from them every time you read a short story or a
definition on a worksheet. Remember, they need to know you, too. Let them in
but at the appropriate level. You got this! Tomorrow is Monday. Set your alarm
10 minutes early, it's time.
Best,
Ms. Vaughn
Thank you for sharing this! What a great way to encourage and motivate yourself. There are definitely some mornings (or afternoons!) when a little reminder that what we're doing matters is necessary.
ReplyDeleteVoughn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for this letter. I think several aspects of are applical to many of us education majors. We are impactful, in more ways than we realize and our presence is noticed, and even missed. There are time that we may feel we are being asked too much, but we must keep in mind we are doing a BIG job!
Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the letter! I think this is an awesome way to remind yourself that this experience is in no way "easy", but that it will be worth it. I especially loved how you said "...a teachers results aren't tangible". Although the public believes results are tangible in the form of high scores on tests (and yes, that is one thing teachers aim to create) many times it seems the public does not understand why all students do not achieve the "A" standard, or a 4.0. Success looks different for every student, and I've got to remind myself of that often. I could proliferate on that topic more, but more importantly, your letter was fresh and original, encouraging, and quite relatable to how I feel from time to time. Thanks again, Vaughn!
Sincerely,
Jake
Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the letter with us! I love how this can be used as a means to put everything back into perspective on those not so perfect days. I will most definitely being borrowing this and writing my own. I like how you point out they might not always say, "thank you" but by there actions you are able to tell you are making a difference.
Vaughn, thank you for sharing this letter! I love that you chose to write it to yourself. It shows that you have really thought things through and have reflected on the semester so far! I love when you talk about the impact we, as student teachers, can have on students.
ReplyDeleteDear Vaughn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your letter to yourself “What to expect, What you’ll see, and How to feel.” So much hope and encouragement—I love it! Thank you for reminding us that “much like a priest, a teacher’s results aren’t tangible,” and thank you for showing us how to look for those results and signs of gratitude in other ways (students chunking poems, and buying their own Post-It notes). I also love this line: “You’ll tell them to have a great night and see them tomorrow but really you’ll see them in their writing you grade every night.” What a wonderful way to view grading and responding to students’ work—you get to see them and get to know them as people through their writing. Yes! Thanks for inspiring us. You definitely “got this!”
Katie