Teacher Appreciation Week

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week. Yeaaaa! to all of the teachers out there - especially the public school teachers who are not only educators, but are also mothers, fathers, counselors, nurses, big brothers and sisters, facilitators, providers, liaisons, and advocates.

Good teachers are patient and kind. They try not to lose their patience. Good teachers are sympathetic and understanding, but also challenge their students and are encouraging. They put up with more than they should because God knows that kids have bad days and take it out on the wrong person. They are nonjudgmental, open minded, flexible, and quick on their feet. And really, all of this only describes a good teacher's characteristics, not their abilities in the teaching field.

When I think back to why I became a teacher I realize there is no definitive moment. My mom told me when I was a teenager that I'd make a good guidance counselor and I almost laughed out loud. I could NEVER have imagined becoming a teacher until I actually became one. And now I wonder if I can picture myself doing anything but.

I always wanted to be an interpreter or translator; however, I'm really not that far off by being an English teacher. I initially got involved with teaching during my college years. I started to volunteer at the American Civic Association, I was a high school Spanish volunteer, I tutored college students in Spanish, I volunteered as a tutor at an English language institute in Uruguay, and I was a teacher's assistant for an ESOL class at my university. I enjoyed this so much, and liked working with people interested in the English and Spanish languages. I even got a job as an archaeologist's assistant in Peru because I was fluent in Spanish and an Anthropology major. Experiencing new cultures and languages was exhilarating and opened so many doors for me.

So, what do you do when you value education, love languages, and studying diverse cultures?  You become an ESOL and English teacher. That's what I am. I'm a professional. Highly educated. A "forever" student. A lover of the English language. I LOVE to teach and I love my students, even though I have days when I could throw those 9th graders against the wall. And the thing is, I'm not the only one. I'm amazed at how many of my fellow teachers have a Master's degree (and even a PhD).

I've heard hilarious comments by students over the years; I could almost write a book. I've been cursed at (if you work in a tough inner city school you can't avoid this, no matter how much you're otherwise loved). I've cried about students. Worried about students. Spent hours grading papers, creating lessons and tests. But you know what, I make a difference. All public school teachers do. So congratulations to us and THANK YOU to all the teachers out there that make a difference in the lives of our students.

Once my students heard over the announcements in the beginning of the week that it's teacher appreciation week, many of them began to thank me. I was deeply touched, and surprised as this was unexpected to me. Then little by little, students from different periods (classes) began to write me short notes on my board. Usually I don't let them write on there because they'd use up all of the markers, but their messages were so sweet that I left them. Eventually I needed to erase the board because it got so full and started to look a mess (and I needed to use it). Here are the first picures I took. Thank you, students! It means a lot to me. I mean, this is why we teach.

Act II is from "Romeo & Juliet" :)

Thank you. Gracias. Merci.