Is this all it's "cracked up" to be as a teacher?

September 25 - October 2

What was the moment (or moments) this past week when you felt most connected, engaged, or affirmed as a teacher - the moment(s) when you said to yourself, "This is what being a
teacher is really all about"?

I especially felt most connected as a teacher when I was at a gas station today at the local Kroger where I live. It was ironic that I would fill up the gas to my wife’s car for her before the night wound down and some of our favorite shows were coming on like “Once upon a time”. We watch that series once a week as a whole family, I, my wife, and two kids. So today while I filled up my gas tank I looked to the right and noticed one of my very own students gathering the buggies in the Kroger parking lot. I hesitated a moment as I saw him look at me and I then quickly waved at him. He raised his hand and waved back.

I know this may not seem like much to the normal eye, but to me it was a connection to know that while I was out in the “real world” I had a student that I had JUST given props to the week before, someone I never connected with before, acknowledge me in his own world. He didn’t have to wave at me or even act like he saw me but he did and honestly that is what made my week in that very moment.

Connecting with students on their levels is something I had heard about for a long time but never truly experienced until today. To know that you bridged the gap between being a boss or being an authoritative figure to someone that someone else would acknowledge in some way, well, for me it has made all the difference. That same student by the way has been a quiet one that gave little response to my questions in class.

The question now would be is this newfound connection something I can use to my advantage in the classroom to help him open up more and express himself to others as he did me on a random Sunday afternoon? Only time will tell…

Mr. H.