The end of a school year is a time of reflection — for parents, kids,
and teachers. What were the mountaintops? Where were the valleys? What
did each group learn over the course of the year?
Parents learned their preconceived notion of the "new" teacher was
either right on the money, or missed by a mile. They discovered they
didn't always agree with the teacher's decisions or methods, but found
her willing to listen to their concerns and work toward a resolution.
They experienced situations where the teacher's motives were pure, but
her tact was less than admirable. They learned the kid's version and
teacher's version of an incident didn't always match. And they
discovered that it often took some diligent sleuthing and a bit of soul
searching to uncover the real story.
Parents learned that teachers aren't all the same. They have different
personalities, talents, skills, and temperaments. They approach learning
in different ways, tackle problems differently, and relate to kids with
their own individual style. Hopefully, parents realized these
differences were not synonymous with "good" or "bad," but with unique.
Most parents came to the realization that his child's teacher went into
the profession because he liked kids and felt he could make a positive
difference in their lives. And that is why he has stayed there.
Kids probably learned the most throughout the course of a year, and only
a portion of that knowledge involved subject matter. They learned the
school family was made up of a diverse and unique group. They learned
how to accept and appreciate the kids who were different than they. They
developed the skills of compromise and sharing that became bridges to
peaceful solutions. They discovered most days were fun and exciting, but
some were just plain dull and uneventful.
They discovered which buttons to push so their teacher would smile and
say, "I'm so proud of you." And they learned which buttons not to push.
Buttons that provoked the teacher's "dirty look", a dreaded visit to the
principal's office, or the life threatening "bad-news" telephone call to
parents.
Kids discovered that they alone were accountable for completing their
assignments. They learned the teacher never bought into the "My mom
forgot to put my book in the tote-bag" or "My dog ate my homework"
stories.
Kids discovered their teachers were just ordinary mortals with the same
assets and liabilities that every other human being has. They learned
the teacher had his "good days" and his "bad days", and it didn't always
correlate with the kids' achievement or behavior. They got to observe
their teacher laugh, and on rare occasions they were forced to watch her
cry. They noticed how the teacher didn't always know the answers, and
how he sometimes made mistakes. They also witnessed the teacher say, "I
was wrong. I'm sorry."
Kids observed their teacher's inability to reach some kids on a first,
second or third attempt. They also noticed she never gave up. They were
fascinated to watch as the teacher searched for new and different ways
to present the same old material in a more meaningful manner. They saw
the teacher's excitement when the late bloomer exclaimed, "Ah-ha, now I
understand!" And what's more, they felt the late bloomer's sense of
accomplishment and they rejoiced for him.
And finally, each kid learned that his teacher was his friend. She was
strict, but not mean spirited. She noticed his new haircut, fixed his "ouchies",
laughed at his jokes, and empathized with his heartaches. She rejoiced
in his successes, and provided encouragement when he experienced
failure. She did not humiliate him, or allow others to do so. She liked
to have fun and laugh and tease. She cared for him as a person. She will
never forget him, and he knows it.
What did teachers learn? They learned their students were powerful
teachers. Kids taught them how to chuckle at the unexpected, and how to
exercise restraint in moments of frustration. On a regular basis,
students demonstrated the joy of making a new friend, and the sorrow
that resulted from a damaged or broken friendship. Teachers learned from
their students the excitement of the first snowfall, the wonderment of
looking into a microscope for the first time, and the pain of watching a
bird with an injured wing.
Teachers learned what love of family is by observing their students' joy
and pride when Mom or Dad came to the classroom door or attended a
school function. Teachers learned their students had an uncanny ability
to transform a yucky day into a "yippee" day by simply saying, "Oh,
that's the way you do it!"
New teachers learned, and veteran teachers were reminded that there's no
place a teacher would rather be than in a classroom full of unique,
unforgettable kids.
Parents, kids, and teachers: Savor your memories, and have a great
summer.
Jacquie McTaggart is a recently retired 42-year career teacher and
author of, "From the Teacher's Desk." She currently travels throughout
the country speaking at teacher conferences and symposiums for parents.
You can find more of her teaching and parenting tips at
http://www.theteachersdesk.com.
Tudor Theme
Crafts, worksheets, colouring pages, printables of all sorts, and lots of links
- a really comprehensive new theme for this popular royal dynasty!
We have lots of birthday printables (including invitations, planning
sheets, thank you letters and puzzles) as well as party games for all
ages. Party food and party theme ideas coming soon. BirthdaysLots NEW!
