I am the daughter of an elementary teacher, and I'm thankful for that insight which helps me better appreciate my child's teachers and all the admin and support staff at their school. It's been a long road to get to the point where we are now with my kids' IEP and 504's but their current teachers? I couldn't ask better ones-they are kind, empathetic, smart, funny, organized, and truly love what they do. (I wish they felt safer and were better paid, but that is a topic for another day.) We hit the jackpot this year. My youngest son's teacher is just so amazing I can't even think of other words to describe her-just thinking about it gets me emotional because she's helped my severely anxious child in EVERY possible way she could think of and doesn't hesitate to brainstorm new ideas or accommodations, even if it's late at night or it means more work for her. So it's really not just one thing, but a collection of things she's done to help him feel safe, welcome, and understood. My older son's teacher has fostered an environment that encourages my kid to voice concern about a situation, knowing she's a safe and trusted adult. They are just the best. *all the heart emojis*
Anyway, thanks to all the teachers and school staff out there. You are amazing and are doing the most important work. I see you and am so thankful.
My 3-year-old daughter has a teacher at preschool who loves to do her hair in the afternoons (she does it for basically any kid with longer hair who's interested). She's always coming home with some kind of amazing hair style I'd never be able to do myself. Her teacher says she just has fun doing it, and I think it's such a sweet way to connect and show love!
Wow, Melinda, that sounds scary. What kind of world is this? Ugh. I'm thankful all is well.
I'm grateful that my kids' teachers respond to their individual needs. How do they manage to notice each child's needs and then tailor guidance for all twenty-whatever of them? I have no idea. They are superhuman.
It's such a shift, too. My junior high got a couple bomb threats while I was there, but back then we were 100% confident that some kid called them in to get some time out of class. We'd all stand around in the field chatting, like, ok, when is this going to be done. Now you really believe something terrible could be about to happen.
Last year, my kid's kindergarten teacher asked the school OT to keep an informal eye on him when she was in the room working with other kids. His first-grade teacher did the same this year, and eventually the OT concluded he should have a full work-up, because his difficulty writing was frustrating him since he had so much he wanted to write. He's now in regular OT for some motor skills and visual-motor processing issues that, looking at his assessments, I am very sure I had at his age but never got formal help for. This is of course a resource issue -- my kid's relatively minor challenges get the kind of support at his school that I watch friends in other districts fight tooth and nail for for kids with much bigger challenges, and that enrages me. But it's also a mindset issue, and one of attentiveness to how he was doing. In general his teachers have so fully engaged with the whole child. I really dread the coming years when teachers will be under more pressure about standardized tests and be less able to attend as fully to the whole child.
The music teacher at his school put together a concert of the first- and second-graders, and it was so impressive! The grades performed separately but there are three classrooms for each grade and they didn't get to practice together much (maybe only once?) but she had them all standing in line and at least somewhat doing some choreographed gestures, and they sang like eight little songs -- which meant remembering not just the tunes but the words -- and she really got buy-in. My kid was so serious and proud the day they had dress rehearsal, and it really mattered to him that we and his grandmother come. I came out feeling so strongly about the importance of art and music education for all kids because even if you don't care much about music, there were so many different skills and kinds of learning on display there.
Love seeing how many other readers are educators :) I’m so grateful for the ones who have worked to uncover my son’s needs this year, and to our district for handling his special ed services eligibility meeting with a strengths-based approach (not always common, in my own experience as an educator). In particular, I am grateful for the experienced early childhood educators who stay in this work -- their work is underpaid but deserves far more appreciation and support and stability, because it is so important.
As a teacher and a parent, please know that many school districts have yearly and sometimes monthly awards they give out. Fellow staff, students, and parents nominate, depending on the award. Many of the awards include monetary prizes, which is ever so appreciated since teachers get paid well below their worth and value. Ask your school’s principal or call your school’s district office to ask about any awards they offer and nominate a deserving teacher!!
I am the daughter of an elementary teacher, and I'm thankful for that insight which helps me better appreciate my child's teachers and all the admin and support staff at their school. It's been a long road to get to the point where we are now with my kids' IEP and 504's but their current teachers? I couldn't ask better ones-they are kind, empathetic, smart, funny, organized, and truly love what they do. (I wish they felt safer and were better paid, but that is a topic for another day.) We hit the jackpot this year. My youngest son's teacher is just so amazing I can't even think of other words to describe her-just thinking about it gets me emotional because she's helped my severely anxious child in EVERY possible way she could think of and doesn't hesitate to brainstorm new ideas or accommodations, even if it's late at night or it means more work for her. So it's really not just one thing, but a collection of things she's done to help him feel safe, welcome, and understood. My older son's teacher has fostered an environment that encourages my kid to voice concern about a situation, knowing she's a safe and trusted adult. They are just the best. *all the heart emojis*
Anyway, thanks to all the teachers and school staff out there. You are amazing and are doing the most important work. I see you and am so thankful.
My 3-year-old daughter has a teacher at preschool who loves to do her hair in the afternoons (she does it for basically any kid with longer hair who's interested). She's always coming home with some kind of amazing hair style I'd never be able to do myself. Her teacher says she just has fun doing it, and I think it's such a sweet way to connect and show love!
Wow, Melinda, that sounds scary. What kind of world is this? Ugh. I'm thankful all is well.
I'm grateful that my kids' teachers respond to their individual needs. How do they manage to notice each child's needs and then tailor guidance for all twenty-whatever of them? I have no idea. They are superhuman.
It's such a shift, too. My junior high got a couple bomb threats while I was there, but back then we were 100% confident that some kid called them in to get some time out of class. We'd all stand around in the field chatting, like, ok, when is this going to be done. Now you really believe something terrible could be about to happen.
Last year, my kid's kindergarten teacher asked the school OT to keep an informal eye on him when she was in the room working with other kids. His first-grade teacher did the same this year, and eventually the OT concluded he should have a full work-up, because his difficulty writing was frustrating him since he had so much he wanted to write. He's now in regular OT for some motor skills and visual-motor processing issues that, looking at his assessments, I am very sure I had at his age but never got formal help for. This is of course a resource issue -- my kid's relatively minor challenges get the kind of support at his school that I watch friends in other districts fight tooth and nail for for kids with much bigger challenges, and that enrages me. But it's also a mindset issue, and one of attentiveness to how he was doing. In general his teachers have so fully engaged with the whole child. I really dread the coming years when teachers will be under more pressure about standardized tests and be less able to attend as fully to the whole child.
The music teacher at his school put together a concert of the first- and second-graders, and it was so impressive! The grades performed separately but there are three classrooms for each grade and they didn't get to practice together much (maybe only once?) but she had them all standing in line and at least somewhat doing some choreographed gestures, and they sang like eight little songs -- which meant remembering not just the tunes but the words -- and she really got buy-in. My kid was so serious and proud the day they had dress rehearsal, and it really mattered to him that we and his grandmother come. I came out feeling so strongly about the importance of art and music education for all kids because even if you don't care much about music, there were so many different skills and kinds of learning on display there.
Love seeing how many other readers are educators :) I’m so grateful for the ones who have worked to uncover my son’s needs this year, and to our district for handling his special ed services eligibility meeting with a strengths-based approach (not always common, in my own experience as an educator). In particular, I am grateful for the experienced early childhood educators who stay in this work -- their work is underpaid but deserves far more appreciation and support and stability, because it is so important.
As a teacher and a parent, please know that many school districts have yearly and sometimes monthly awards they give out. Fellow staff, students, and parents nominate, depending on the award. Many of the awards include monetary prizes, which is ever so appreciated since teachers get paid well below their worth and value. Ask your school’s principal or call your school’s district office to ask about any awards they offer and nominate a deserving teacher!!