For many families in the San Ramon Valley, last week was a week of shortened school days for children due to school conferences.
For teachers, like myself, it means in addition to teaching, we meet with each and every family to talk about how their child is doing in school, both socially and academically. It is an exhausting week for teachers but one filled with the reward of knowing that we are helping children succeed by working together as a team.
As I sat at the conferences for my own sons, Jack, Drew, and Aiden, I was struck with how hard each of their teachers at Bollinger Canyon Elementary work. My third graders will be doing podcasts, iMovies, in-depth research projects, heritage reports, and so much more. My first grader is learning much of the same concepts my own first grade students are learning, yet the time and energy his teacher put in to his conference was impressive!
In my own classroomm, as I met with parents, I watched some parents enter the classroom looking very dressed up for the occasion.
This year, because I have a first grader and teach that same grade, some of these little things hit home a bit more for me. When I went to conferences for my boys, I was nervous inside, like all parents feel when having a parent teacher conference. I wondered what their teachers might say, how our boys were doing and how they would be challenged.
It dawned on me, as I sat on both sides of that conference table, that teachers truly do touch the lives of our children. I am sure each of us can look back on school and remember our favorite teacher. You may even remember your most dreaded teacher. My first grade teacher, Mrs. Cogburne in Helotes, Texas was horrid! She use to spank kids. I was the “teacher’s pet” and even I got the dreaded spanking one time! My kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Quicksaw inspired me to become a teacher!
What teacher or teachers have inspired you? Do you have a superb teacher who your children learn from each day? If so, tell that teacher how much he or she means to your life and the social and academic life of your children! Surprise your child’s teacher with his or her favorite treat, just because, no special occasion or event needed: coffee, tea, lunch.
Simply say thank you or write a note of thanks. As a teacher, it is those little things that mean the world to us!
