Dear Teacher,
I have shared this image on Facebook before and you have probably seen it elsewhere, but I saw it this morning and want to share it here with you because I feel like this is one of the best (and funniest) metaphors for teaching. It is our teaching life!
I share it with you today because I want to remind you of something…
YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FIRES TO DEAL WITH IN YOUR CLASSROOM (and life…but we are going to focus on the classroom part)!
You have got to stop worrying about what other teachers are doing, what your administration thinks of you, and how you look to others. You are uniquely wired for your classroom. You are the best at knowing what your students need. And you have skills, talents, and abilities that others don’t.
Be you. Focus on your students. Let those fires be the ones you are dealing with.
Everyone else can ride their own “fire bike.”
So what if your classroom is not the poster-perfect, Pinteresting classroom your teammate has.
So what if there is a chaos in your classroom that others don’t understand because you are trying to embrace something new like PBL.
So what if your students a little louder in the hall than some of the others because you decided to take stands with other behaviors.
So what if you have a wildly different teaching style and you constantly have to defend it.
SO WHAT?
You are perfect for your classroom. You are perfect for your students. You are perfect for your situation.
Know who you are and what you are good at and own it…and then get on that fire bike and ride like hell! (okay, sorry for using that word…but it feels like it fits so well with the analogy!)
You’ve got this, Teacher! Don’t worry about the others. Be you and who you need to be for your students!
Be confident in what you are good at. Work on the things that need work…sure. But be kind to yourself enough to acknowledge what you are great at and run with that. Let your awesomeness show to your students. No one else needs to have an opinion!
Be you. Be awesome. Ride your fire bike with your unique style!
Did I mention that you’ve got this?
Oh, and side note…realize that everyone else is riding their own fire bikes…cut them a little slack!
Anyway. Your fire bike is awesome. You are awesome. Be you and know you have what it takes to make a difference for your students…you already are! Keep riding that bike and keep on teaching, Teacher!
Love, Teacher
Dear Teacher/Love Teacher 