Re-Education of Ms. G (Part 7)

So, I was grading Unit Test when I realize that there are only (technically) 5 weeks left this semester. I will only have these, my first ever, students for five more weeks. The realization was difficult to swallow.

In five weeks, I would say goodbye to these students and welcome in a whole batch of new faces. I had prepared for everything except this. I had forgotten how it took me close to a month before I knew all 73 names and faces. We, my kids and I, had formed this bond. It’s like they were teaching me, as I was teaching them. Now they would be moving on, and I wondered if I would eventually fade into the back of their minds.

“Happy Grams” went out today. When I checked my box, I had tons; more than any other teacher (that’s what I tell myself!). Kids can send Happy Grams to their friends or teachers. I could not believe that so many of my kids took the time to think about me. One student wrote all over the front and back of the gram. He told me how I was his favorite teacher, how much he loved me, how he looked forward to my class, how much he was going to miss me, and how he hoped I had a great first year. I was touched!

As I read through the grams, I found 3 from students I had never heard of. When I read their grams, I realized that these are students I will have NEXT semester! These students haven’t even had me yet. They wrote me notes to tell me they could not wait for me to be their teacher! I was speechless.

I don’t know if I am a good teacher, I am defiantly not the teacher who inspired me, but I think…maybe, I have the beginnings of being a great teacher. I wonder at what moment a person really becomes what they were supposed to be in life. Do we become a teacher the moment we walk into our classrooms? Do we become a teacher when our students take their first test? Or do we become a teacher when we receive our certificate? I’m still working on that one; I’ll have to get back to you.

As far as today, it was a good day. I really needed it!