I try to enter the doors of our school with a smile and a good morning as I stroll through the halls passing students thinking to myself “It’s going to be a great day!” I try to assist the parents and students as much as possible. I always keep in mind that we have them for the majority of the day and for some this is a safe haven, some are caring the weight of the world on them at such a young age, and as Tricia mention “We need to give them the benefit of a doubt.” It is such a great feeling when you reach at least one and he or she comes back to visit and say, “Thank you for always being there and believing in me.” He then goes to our conference room to speak to a small group of students about his college life. This is my daily contribution.
You have a nice perspective on life as an educator. Doing this, contributing everyday, would not be possible if you had any doubt as to what makes you be you. I suspect that you had a teacher, at a point in your life that inspired students and gave you the benefit of doubt. What I find interesting is the learning that takes place later, after we have moved on, when our vision is no longer blurred by the moment. What is most rewarding are the students that come back and surprise you with their revelations about “being there” and “believing” in them when you never knew that they were even paying attention.
ReplyDeleteLooking back over chapters 5-8, your contribution theory is a great way to sum up those chapters. What a blessing you are to your students. From my personal observations, more educators like you are needed. I see teachers act so “ugly” with their students in the name of being tough. It made me wonder if I was being too soft. Our students do carry the weight of the world so much more than I ever remember when I was in school. It is scary! And the unfortunate things is that you do not hear about their horror stories until after your direct influence is over. Your daily contribution of allowing students to escape their circumstance is commendable. Thank you from all the students who don’t always come back.
ReplyDeleteWow! It's good to hear another educator get the same warm fuzzies that I enjoy receiving as well. There is nothing like hearing from a parent that my son hated language arts before but now all he does is talk about how he loves your class. It is those moments and the ones where I learn from the student that you made my day and that it was your talk or smile that made their experience all the better.
ReplyDeleteI believe that I am a positive contribution to my students, their families, my school, church, and sorority. I am the teacher who tutors for free, goes to every skate night, PTA event, mentor fellow teachers without pay, implement new activities, take on students with challenges, take parents and students home, and basically says yes because I want my students to be successful. I know I am a contribution. They area I deal with is being a contribution for my own life. I am completing this grad program and know that that is a major contribution. My goal is to be more engaged in my own life. Create a list of places to visit, things to do, places to eat, just live a more active life to satisfy my own personal needs. I need to contribute more to my happiness and not settle in the happiness of others.
ReplyDelete“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
ReplyDeleteMother Teresa of Calcutta
You can said a thousand words with a simple smile. It talk about your person when you give a smile to another person. I think is a big contribution if you smile to a person. Great contribution!