The Teacher That I Am
Joanne Katz
2009
It’s August.
The sun is shining and I am sitting on my pool deck covered in suntan lotion with
lemonade and a good book. I’m reflecting
on the teacher that I am vs. the teacher that I’d planned on becoming. Today…I’m
thinking that I haven’t turned out too badly.
Let’s see:
I’m
always calm and even-tempered:25 9 year olds high on
Halloween candy don’t make me crazy. I’m able to get through the day before
Christmas vacation with the same restraint that I show on any other day.
I’m
patient: I give each child the time he/she needs. I don’t
feel that they have to fit the mold. I change the mold for each child. I see standardized tests for what they are:
Bench marks that will help us see where we need to go.
I’m fair and
caring: I don’t ever have favorites. I respect each child for who and what they
are and there are no children that annoy or irritate me. Each child knows that they are important and
valued.
I’m fun
and creative: I can always come up with activities that the
kids enjoy while still managing to cover the curriculum. After all, if the kids want to be here, they
will learn more.
I’m
prepared and organized: No matter how crazy my life gets or how many
committees I am asked to be on, I always take the time to prepare well in
advance for each day. I keep myself
organized because organization is a vital skill for life. If I don’t model it,
how can I expect my students to learn it?
I owe that to my kids! They
shouldn’t have to pay for the craziness of my life!
I’m
informed and up-to-date:
I take the time to attend every staff development opportunity I
can. I read current journals and texts
that apply to my curriculum. That way I
can be sure to give the kids the best possible opportunities.
Like I said, I haven’t turned out too badly…because it’s
August, and this is the teacher I see.
But of course that’s not the whole truth. That’s why July and August were created-so
teachers can reflect, regroup and plan for a brand new year; one where I
haven’t made any mistakes…yet. One where
there is still potential. Hopes, dreams,
plans!! If it were June, I would be seeing a different teacher. That June teacher is one who is focused on
missed opportunities, one who is second guessing herself, time running out, could-a,
should-a, would-a. One who should calm
down and slow down. One with a lot of regrets.
But that’s not the whole truth either. I know that now,
because July and August give me back something that I only discover when I have
this time; the kind of time where I can slow down and calm down. The kind of
time where I can read all those notes and cards from students and parents. The kind of notes from a student that say, “I
never felt like I could do math before I had you.” Or the note that comes years
later that says, “You were the first teacher who said it was OK to be me.” It’s
the time when I run into a parent in the aisle of a store and they get teary as
they tell me that the time their child spent with me was a turning point in
their lives; how I was different because I cared and let them know. That’s why July and August were created. So I
could leave that June teacher behind and become that September teacher once
again; the one who can take the time to stop and smell the smell of new
crayons. I can do that because it’s
August and sun shine, suntan lotion, lemonade and a good book offer a filter
and rose colored glasses. And I have notes
and store visits. I can get excited
about the future, and plan, and reflect back on the teacher that I am. I am thinking that I did not turn out too
bad. (Or is it badly??) J
Pretty soon it will be September and it will be time to get
going. The smell of new crayons is
calling me!!
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