Each one is special, Teach

What's the secret to being happy as an educator?  This simple tip for teachers brought the joy back into my classroom, and it can bring you the same motivation and desire to teach.

Each student is important.  Remembering that brings me the teaching inspiration I need.  To help me remember this, I place a penny in my shoe. For most of the day, the penny goes un-noticed.  Occasionally, however, I feel the penny and when I do I make a mental note to remember how special each and every student is. As I treat each student with special care like they are somebody important, I find myself enjoying teaching.

In my personal life, I believe that everyone is a child of God, so that's specifically what I remind myself of--each student is a child of God.  It helps me to think about how Jesus would treat each student.  It also helps me to think about what the bible states in Matthew 25 that Jesus will say to those who show kindness, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these...ye have done it unto me".  I try to imagine the face of my Savior on each child because according to that scripture, when I show care to any one of them I am also showing it to Jesus in a way.  As I do this, the stresses of teaching (standards and grades and assessments and more) melt away.  I still need to take care of all those things, mind you, but I am filled with happiness as I do because my focus is on the people rather than the other stuff.

If you don't believe the same way as me, you can modify your self-message accordingly.  But this strategy of using the penny (or some other method) to remind yourself about how special each student is remains a powerful way to find fulfillment as a teacher.

You may even consider using the rocks shown in the Amazon link below to give to students reminding them of their worth. Click here to view them.

If you are looking for more encouragment for teaching, you might enjoy my blog post about teacher laughter. (Click here to view it.) You might also enjoy just browsing my blog archive to read all the uplifting messages

As always, hang in there, Teach!
Happy Teaching,
Frank

P.S. If you enjoyed this content, you can receive each post I publish by filling in the "follow by email" box at the top right (on the desktop version of the site)

(Click to see the resources I've created)

You make a difference, Teach!

What do teachers make?  Pay can be little, so what inspires them to teach?  What motivates them to come to work each day?  What keeps teachers from getting burned out when the pay alone doesn't seem worth it?

Poet and teacher Taylor Mali penned one excellent answer.  He became famous for his poem (and later his book) entitled What Teachers Make.  He penned the words to this poem after a discouraging dinner party.  The host—a lawyer—seemed to be set on the idea that your income determines your importance.  For instance, the host said, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach. . . I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor.  Be honest.  What do you make?”  

Taylor didn’t lash out at that moment.  In his own words, Taylor comically says, “I decided to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the dinner guests that it’s also true what they say about lawyers. . .”  Taylor went home later and wrote his famous poem—the response he wished he had given.  In effect, he wrote that he makes a difference (as the T-shirt image below portrays).  His book is really meaningful for us teachers. If you buy it or the T shirt, please use this link as I get a very small commission off of each sale.  

Following is an excerpt from his poem to remind you that each of us amazing teachers are making a difference. (If you’d like, you can watch him perform the poem in the video below.)

You want to know what I make? 

I make kids wonder, I make them question. 

I make them criticize. 

I make them apologize and mean it. 

I make them write. I make them read, read, read. 

....I make a difference. 

KEEP MAKING A DIFFERENCE, EDUCATORS!  You got this! If you are looking for further encouragment for teaching, you might enjoy my blog post about noticing the good in your classroom. Click here to view it. You might also enjoy just browsing my blog archive to read all the uplifting messages

As always, hang in there, Teach!
Happy Teaching,
Frank

P.S. If you enjoyed this content, you can receive each post I publish by filling in the "follow by email" box at the top right (on the desktop version of the site)

(Click to see the resources I've created)