Best Practices

I have always wanted to be a teacher, well that is not entirely true during the late 80’s I did want to be a lawyer so I could work with Jimmy Smits. Other than that a brief time I wanted to be a teacher. I think most of us can think of a time when you wanted to grow up to be something or someone. You might have your dream job or you might have decided that when Mr. Smith asked me, “What I wanted to be,” really doesn’t count as a dream job. I love teaching and I think I am a good at it. Not every day but most days. Sometimes on the bad days I forget why I started out wanting to be a teacher.

Why did I think working with young children seem like a good idea? Did I really want to say 100 times a day, “Tie your shoe” or “Sit down please so we can get started.” They are both nice phrases but that is not the reason. I wanted to help them become good students, learn to enjoy books like I do, love math (even though this is not my best subject), and to realize that history is doomed to repeat itself if we do not learn from it.

This week I was lucky enough to go to a great conference. I think conferences are nice and you do learn from them but, I do not like to leave my kids. That is a whole different blog. This conference as I was listening to some of the presenters I realized I do love my job! There were comments, views, and ideas shared on what are “best practices” in the teaching field and I was doing some of those things, not all but more than half. I had different ideas come to me and I think I solved a problem at school. I also realized again that laying a strong foundation before the house is built is important. I am not putting up the walls or ceiling I am the base and if that is not level, firm, and strong it will not matter what the rest of the house looks like, the house will fall.

So what does this all mean? It means we need to celebrate the little things. I need to be happy if Jonny sits down for 10 minutes when yesterday he only sat down for 5 minutes. I need to tell those teachers on the Elementary Team, “Thank you” because they are fantastic to work with. I need to remember that some days are going to be bad but a smile will go a long way. Last but not least use the biggest tool in your tool belt, mine is passion for learning.

Monday you might see a different teacher on your campus. One that is renewed with a passion for learning is willing to continue to solve problems, and one that is willing to hire Jimmy Smits if he wants to be a teacher at my school. Most importantly there are two groups I would like to thank, first to the teachers of my own children they are better people because of you. Second, thank you to those parents who have entrusted me with their children I have enjoyed them more than you know. Remember if you can read this thank a teacher, it is because of them you can read.