Sometimes things happen in our classroom that simply must be shared with others. That is often true with good reads, rich discussions, authentic assessment and instruction…as well as the little unexpected things that come up when working with children! We wanted to create this page especially for you - to share some of the great learning that has taken place (even when it wasn’t pretty) that has made us sit up and take notice! Ahh Haa...
And the award goes to ...
Some days are hard; kids can be challenging, standards high, parents difficult. At times, our profession is inarguably wonderful and hard, all in the same day – heck, the same hour!!
But there is no more important job than teaching children ... with this in mind, we have an “ahh haa” story to share with you:
As the bell rang on the first day of school, a brand new teacher popped into my classroom and had that look of panic on her face. Her face and the words, “They’re coming!” said it all.
My teaching partner asked me for the very best words of advice I had for her, that would impact her teaching for the rest of her career. Geez – no pressure!
I hesitated for a moment, realizing that she was serious. Then without hesitation I said, “Each day when you come to school you need to get the Academy Award.” Yes, there are days that we don’t feel well, the garage door is stuck in the open position, the shower is clogged, the dog threw up on the carpet…..but none of those things can affect the way we treat our children.
There are days when we really don’t feel much “love” for our students, but they don’t deserve to know that. Challenge yourself to love and value each and every child you teach, everyday. Go for that Academy Award! You will feel better and more importantly, the children you spend 7 hours a day with, will feel loved and valued too, and will in turn be more successful!
View past Ahh Haa Moments in Archives
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