Sunday’s Reflection: “Blessed To Teach Them”
As I took my Walk, I thought about a note and card I received on the last day before Winter Break.
Note
To: Mr. Short
From: **************** *************
You’re so kind to help me in small group. I really like to spend time with you. Enjoy your break see you soon.
Card
Thank you for all the time and energy you to our kids. Krahn is blessed to have you! Merry Christmas!
Reading these kind words forced me to reflect on the moment I was told that I’d be working 2nd grade. All I could think is no, No, NO…Good Lord NO!!!
I was an upper-elementary teacher…I don’t fool with the babies.
Several people tried to convince that it’d be a good look for the short and long-term. I still wasn’t feeling it until the first week of school. I read the poem—Mother to Son—to the kids. And then I ask what mom was trying to say.
One of my students shared out: “Sounds like his mom had a rough life.”
Me(In my head): I might got something here.
It took an entire nine weeks for me to adjust to the age-level but slowly but surely, I got in a groove. My kids quickly became the strongest group of “critical thinkers” I’ve every taught. That’s saying a lot. I’ve had some solid groups the past three years. They want to show you what they know, too. (Maybe too much at times.)
Students have said that I “inspire” them, parents have thanked me for their children’s growth, and my students display an insatiable thirst for learning process.
Not only have my students grown , but I have, too. I’m learning to scaffold instruction, incorporate Guided Reading, engage in Artful Read-Alouds and promote higher-order thinking with proper question stems. Most importantly, I’ve learned to critique my work.
To end, I’ve impacted my babies, but they’ve impacted me, too.
I’m blessed to teach them.
I leave you with two things.
1. Whom do you serve?
2. Are they a blessing to you?
Jeremiah Short, Educator
The Phenomenal Student 