07 May Slice of Life: Celebrating Teacher Appreciation with a Poem #TWTBlog #SOL19
Ode to a Teacher
Drink what’s meant to be hot when it’s cold
And what’s meant to be cold when it’s hot
Eating lunch at one’s desk
A relaxing experience it is not
The words “Please may I quickly …”
Accompany most requests
Adult conversation
Happens rarely at best
Hydration never happens
No time to relieve
Short days, summers off
That’s what some folks believe
Promotions, bonuses, and raises
Are paid with smiles, growth, and hugs
Patience, enthusiasm and energy required
Most days end feeling like a slug
Classroom books are often paid for
Out of one’s own pocket
Memories of students are priceless
Treasured in one’s heart like a locket
No better colleagues can anyone find
Smart, creative, humorous, and kind
Conferences, report cards, and recess duty when cold
Students sharing their heart, that never gets old
Spirit days, field trips and wearing your PJs to work
Reading books for a living is just one of the perks
Still getting to celebrate snow days and delays
New markers and post-its make one’s day
Some say teaching is thankless
The external rewards are few
But who needs appreciation
When your calling is true
In honor of teacher appreciation week, I will be giving away a copy of Debbie Miller’s book, What’s the Best That Could Happen? Take a moment to share what you love about being a teacher in the comments below by Friday, May 10. I will use a random number generator to choose a winner. The winner will be announced on the blog on Tuesday, May 14
Thank you to all the teachers I have the privilege to learn with every day. You inspire me, humble me, and truly overwhelm me with your dedication to children and learning.
Clare
Laura Mossa
Posted at 10:25h, 07 MayAs a reading specialist, I love supporting striving readers to become more confident readers. I also love getting to know students as readers so I can personally recommendbooks that I know they will .enjoy. Thanks for the opportunity!
Chris Margocs
Posted at 10:28h, 07 MayI could nod my head at each of those lines…and my current classroom is the library! I love teaching students skills that I know they can use for a lifetime–getting to know themselves as readers, researchers, consumers and producers of information. What I like best is the smile of excitement on a child’s face when they’ve found the book they’ve been waiting for, and when I see pairs of students sharing books, heads bent over the text.
Lisa Corbett
Posted at 10:41h, 07 MayI love teaching reading and math. But I really love teaching social emotional skills. I love pulling a read aloud off a shelf and using it to spark conversation about some recess craziness. When my students emotionally connect with a character in a story and finally seem to understand how they have been like the character…that’s what I love.
Amanda Pitzele
Posted at 10:42h, 07 MayI love
seeing my students smile
As they come in.
Growing readers and writers
Makes me feel so the best
I get excited about their learning
And seeing the independence show.
Playing house, running races,
I just love those silly faces.
The things they say
Even when they think I can’t heat
Give me such a chuckle.
I love my students inside and out
Do I really have to let them go to first grade?
Erika Victor
Posted at 11:21h, 07 MayI love your poem! My favorite thing about teaching is…getting to learn along with amazing students! (and reading aloud, and so much more!).
Lynn Grainger
Posted at 12:34h, 07 MayI totally enjoyed your poem. My favorite things about teaching are the sense of community within a classroom and the “ah ha” moments across all areas of the curriculum.
Melanie Meehan
Posted at 15:32h, 07 MayI love teaching kids to write. When they realize the power of their words to make a difference, and that the whole process does not require perfection– just bravery and the recognition that their words matter.
Diane Dougherty
Posted at 19:13h, 07 MayI loved laughing every day; I loved greeting students at the door and exchanging pleasantries with them; I loved reading and responding to student writing; I loved that I was being paid for something I would be doing anyway–reading, writing, responding, talking.
And…I loved your poem which succinctly describes who a teacher is!
Christine Baldiga
Posted at 20:58h, 07 MayYour ode hits every thing we love and live with teaching! So well written. Thanks for taking the time to put your appreciation for this complicated vocation into words.
Gwen Blumberg
Posted at 00:02h, 08 MayThe best part of teaching is sharing books with kids! I love reading children’s books and then getting them into kids hands or reading them aloud telling the children, “I thought of you when I read this.”
Jenn Whitt
Posted at 00:26h, 08 MayThe best part is helping students reach their full potential and getting the privilege to help them develop on their journey. Instilling confidence, growth mindset and empathy rank in the top perks for me!! Of course fitting the right books at the right time in the hands of the right reader to help their journey is wonderful too.
Jeannine Baggott
Posted at 01:20h, 08 MayI love the hugs I get all through the day!
Aubrey Zitzmann
Posted at 15:36h, 09 MayI love the connections with students!