It's The Little Things...

I have a struggling student in one of the adult education classes that I have been teaching. The student seems to always be at their frustration level, but at the same time they really want to make it through the G.E.D. program. I was fearful that this particular student might be so frustrated that they would give up their hope and discontinue the classes. As a teacher I took extra time to make sure this student did not reach that critical breaking point. Recently, my student came to class with a card that read:

Front: "Sometimes, on an ordinary day; someone kind and thoughtful comes along and colors a moment with generosity and caring."

Inside: "You're one of those special someones. Thanks."
     On a cut out piece of lined paper, the student writes: "Sabrina, I Just thought I would take sum time to thang you for all the time and thought you put in to are class. I have met a lot of lazy, uncaring asshole teachers in my life. So whin a good teacher like you Sabrina comes along I'm thankfal, and it gives me hope."

The cut out and lined paper combined with the spelling mistakes will remind me of the student's character.

I did not correct the mistakes for the purpose of the post; instead I am reminded of the struggling student who needs, and appreciates, the extra time and caring of their teachers. This is one of those moments that teachers are reminded that we are making a difference in our students' lives ... it's the little things that show us.

The Magic of Teachers

My job has taught me that there truly is a magic about teachers. Teachers sit and plan their class time out only to get to the class and find out they need to rework their plans. Recreating lessons on the spot is something no class can teach you. It is about teachers using their creative minds to revamp, adapt and create on the spot lessons to help their students understand concepts and strategies.

This experience happened to me one of the first days of teaching in the adult education program. What I had planned ended up being way to difficult for my students and I could tell I was quickly losing their attention because they were so frustrated. I looked at the clock and still had an hour with them, so I had to quickly create an activity to help them understand. I felt like I fumbled and struggled to create something new but as I look back on that day I realize that my students saw this moment as ease, understanding and magic. The transition was not easy in my brain but my students easily glided through it.

The magic is the ability to help our students on the spot, keep them away from their frustration point, and doing it all with graceful transitions. Teacher education classes can not teach this magic. It takes practice. I am so grateful that I have this job to learn through these frustrations turn into the magic of teaching.