So often we hear about what a terrible job teachers are doing. The stories of teachers who make bad choices seem to outplay uplifting stories in the press. Poor test scores get way more attention that passing ones. A parent who disagrees with your decisions seems to contact you so much more than the parents who think you’re doing a great job. It happens. Teaching is tough. If you’re anything like me, you take it to heart. Hard.
That‘s why stories like the one I heard last week lift me up and recharge me. Our school counselor stopped me to tell me she had a little kiddo in her office who was begging to come to my classroom instead of his own. I guess he had been having a rough day or two. When she asked him why he wanted to come to my room (she thought maybe he was one of my math students, but he isn’t), he told her it was because I’m so nice and I make learning fun. That little stinker brought tears to my eyes. He has heard enough things about me from his friends who are in my class to think our room was a place he’d want to be. I told our counselor he could visit me any time.
It’s hard not to focus on the things that aren’t going so well. It’s hard not to focus on the people who can’t seem to please. It’s hard not to focus on your struggling students. They’re the ones you carry to bed with you at night and think about as soon as you wake in the morning. But you deserve to feel good about what you’re doing too. You make the best decisions you can for the good of your students, all of your students, whenever you can. Pat yourself on the back. And love those kiddos {even the stinkers} because it really does make a difference, even if they don’t tell you.
Before you go, here’s another way you can make a difference…
I thought I was the only one who went to bed and woke up like that! 🙂 Thank you, I needed that. I pray you have an awesome week!
You're welcome. We're all in this together. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this! It really spoke to my heart and the timing couldn't be better.
I'm glad it touched you. Hang in there!
Love hearing a good story! We are hardest on ourselves (all the time). But in one way I guess it makes us good at our jobs because we care so much… in another it causes a lot of sleepless nights. The best tip I have been given was to keep a book of the good stories and a book of the funny ones to look back on
I love flipping through my yearly memory books when I'm feeling bummed too. My favorite is the student who drew a picture of me in the White House because he thought I should be president. 🙂
Love the positive words! We all need 'em 🙂
Thank you so much for this post! It's exactly what I needed to hear! The last few weeks at school have been less than great and I needed a pick me up before we start a new school week tomorrow! Thanks for the motivation and inspiration! It's just what the doctor ordered 🙂
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