Note to Teachers – Page 8 – Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Celebrating Independence

Posted on July 4, 2013July 4, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Today’s post will probably mean most to my American readers, but even if you are from another country, read on…it may still speak to you!

Today is July 4th. Happy 4th, everyone! Today most of us will go to a cookout and/or watch some fireworks while we spend time with friends and family, as well as a number of other traditions people may have. It is a day to celebrate and to remember when our country was officially founded.

July 4th is the day that we mark the Second Continental Congress’ passing and signing of a resolution of independence from England called the Declaration of Independence (though there is a lot of debate about when it was actually signed by most of the people who signed it). This document was the founding document of the United States as an independent country with its own government and no longer under the reigns of England. Today is the day that we celebrate that independence.

This morning, I read up a bit on the traditions, celebrations, and meaning of the 4th of July holiday (Wikipedia had some pretty fascinating tidbits on it). I found out some interesting pieces of information about it. It was almost an instant holiday. The year after the Declaration was passed, there was a celebration on the 4th in Philadelphia (the capitol at the time and where the Continental Congress met), and the party even included fireworks! The tradition of celebrating on that day continued year after year and spread throughout the country. To me, this seems pretty amazing that the holiday basically began the year after the event! But it was a pretty amazing event, and it should be remembered, honored, and celebrated!

Now, how am I going to bring this back to teaching? I don’t know that I need to, but I think I will anyway. 🙂

Think about your students. I know that we all teach students of different backgrounds and each year our students are different. Most of us are on summer break, as well. For this reason, just think about your students in general. Some come from excellent homes and environments…other don’t. Some have amazing and obvious gifts and talents that will take them far…but not all of them. Some know how to learn, think, and explore knowledge independently…but not every single one of your students. Some know how to be independent learners…a lot may not. Some students know what it means to be free and what freedom means…other have no idea.

We are teachers. We are like the armies, soldiers, and volunteers that fought for the freedom for our countries founders to be able to declare independence from England. We have to fight for our students to know thinking independence. Without the freedom to think on their own, they will never know true freedom as an adult…and I believe that most of our job is to get students ready for the future, no matter what we may teach. We need to know each student and what their individual learning styles and need are, and then teach them how to know how to do this on their own. They will not always have us fighting for them…we need to teach them to fight on these battles on their own!

I know this post may be a stretch, but a part of celebrating independence is understanding what independence is. We as adults have a pretty good understanding of what freedom is. Not just freedom in the sense of the freedoms we have in our country, but freedom of mind…to stand and think on our own. We need to remember that our job is to help our students to be able to do the same one day. We are fighting for their freedom to be who they will be one day, on their own. Don’t give up the fight for your students’ independence!

(c)DearTeacherLT (You may use the image if you link back to this blog.)

You are an awesome teacher! You are a great freedom fighter! Don’t give up and don’t ever stop! You are changing the future one student at a time! This makes you amazing! Keep on teaching, Teacher! Happy Forth of July!

Love, Teacher

PS…The picture is from when I went on a cruise and got to sail past the Statue of Liberty. It was hard not to think about what it must have been like for the millions of people that sailed to Ellis Island from around the world in hopes of finding the freedom promised in America. Are you that beacon of hope of future independence for students? I want to be.

Note to Teachers, Teacher Testimony, You Are Awesome!!!

The Red Panda

Posted on June 25, 2013June 25, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Wow, I picked a timely issue when I decided to write today’s post. I have been sitting on this idea for almost a month, and I thought today would be a great day to write it. When I looked up red pandas to get a little more background information, this news story about a Red Panda that escaped from the National Zoo that was found today!

Anyway, the Red Panda.

I have been interested in red pandas ever since I was a kid and heard about them and saw one for the first time at, of all places, the National Zoo in Washington, DC. I really wanted to see the giant pandas that day, but Hsing Hsing and Ling Ling were in their buildings and did not come out that day. My attention was brought to the red pandas. I first I thought that they might be related to the panda bears, so I was excited. That excitement waned when my dad read that they were not even bears but were actually more like the Chinese raccoon (because they are related to the raccoon and found primarily in China).

I was disappointed, but the red panda has stuck with me since that day. I, like a lot of people, first heard the name red panda and thought it was a panda bear. It turns out, according to Wikipedia, that the “panda” in the red panda’s name is from the word in the language of Nepal for “eater of bamboo.” In terms of word meanings, the giant panda and red panda are related, but not else. I was confused and let down by the red panda because of this.

In the years since, I have grown to become affectionate for red pandas. I have learned more about them and I have come to see that they are amazing animals. They are beautiful, rare, and kind of fun to watch (when they are not sleeping…which the ones at the zoo where I live do a lot of). They have an interesting history and background, and they are a just cool animal…even if their name is misleading.

I share all of this, because we teachers are red pandas. So many people confuse and misunderstand what we do and who we are. People here the name “teacher,” and they immediately think of teachers they have had in the past or the picture of teachers on TV, in movies, or on the news. None of these media sources, or even memories of school years past, are an accurate picture of who we are today and what we do (and have to put up with). It is hard to truly understand teachers and teaching until you walk a few thousand miles in our shoes.

Teacher, you are the Red Panda. People may not understand you, but that is okay with you. You are still an amazing and special creature. You do what you do, and you do it well, no matter what other people think! You are the Red Panda of the human world, and you wear that with pride.

Teacher Red Panda, be proud of who you are. Be proud of what you do. Don’t take the misunderstanding of teaching to heart. Help people understand. They will come to see how awesome you are!

You are awesome! So awesome! You are believed in and you are special. You make a difference and you are changing the future! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Reflection

Happy and Not-So-Happy Endings

Posted on June 20, 2013June 22, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

Well, my hiatus was cut a little short because of a short summer school teaching opportunity that has come up. Because I am ending my teaching sabbatical early, I have decided to go ahead and come back to the blog, too. It is good to be back. I hope that you did not miss me too much.

I hope you have enjoyed reading the posts of my Substitute Teachers. I thought each post was insightful, challenging, and full of hope. I hope that you feel the same!

Today’s message is about endings. Endings are what I am thinking about as my little vacation comes to a close. Endings are inevitable. They will come no matter what…and it can be a challenge or a hope to keep that in mind.

When things are going well, an ending does not seem like a good thing. The end of a break. The end of a vacation. Or just the end of a great year with your students. Good things do not last forever and it is sad to see them go. These kind of endings do not have to be bad, though. There is a ways to view them as a positive, and this is where the challenge comes in.

Keep the end in mind to help you savor every wonderful moment…take it in and enjoy every fleeting second.
Memories of good times that have ended give you something to hang on to when things get rough…build those memories well when things are good!
Good times have to end sometime…remember this…we grow more and learn more during difficulties. What kind of teacher would you be if things only went well?

The flip-side of endings are the endings of not-so-good times. When things are not quite as awesome, and the “going get rough,” endings are the light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing that there is an ending gives you the opportunity and ability to have some hope. The following are a few thoughts for you if you are going through one of those phases right now.

Nothing lasts forever, especially the hard times, so don’t give up!
You are growing and becoming a better teacher right now, don’t lose sight of that.
I know it is Kelly Clarkson cliché, but what doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger…when you come out on the other side you will be stronger and better for it.
The light at the end of that tunnel is getting larger every day. Hold on to hope. You will make it through!

(c)DearTeacherLT (You may use this picture if you link back to this blog.)

What is your impending ending right now?

Are you in a good time that will soon be over? Savor it. Take it all in. Enjoy it and make memories. You will need those memories eventually!

Are you in a down time right now? Does everything seem to be going up in flames around you? The end is near! It will not last forever! Find those “good times” memories, hang on to them, and hold on tight for the arrival of that light at the end of the tunnel!

Teacher, you are amazing. You are awesome! You are believed in and you are getting stronger every day! You are changing lives and making a difference!

Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

For more hope and encouragement: @DearTeacherLT (Twitter), Dear Teacher/Love Teacher Facebook Page, and the Dear Teacher TpT Store.

Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers, Pep Talk

Pick Your Pep Talk

Posted on May 30, 2013May 30, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

To quote one of my new personal heroes, Kid President, “I think we all need a pep talk.”

I was thinking about what to write this morning, I realized how tired I was and not ready for the day. I need a pep talk. And if I need one, you probably need one. So, I will pep talk myself and you at the same time.

Because I do not know where you are or what you may be going through and need right now, I am going give a bunch of pep mini-talks. Figure out which one you need, and run with it. It is choose-your-own-pep-talk-adventure day. 🙂

Bad Week at School (there are three main possible bad kind of weeks…pick the pep talk you need):

Teacher, you know it does get better. Another day is always around the corner. Things will pick up. You will pick things up. You are good like that. Why not pick things up today. Be the change your week needs. Control the things you can control, be awesome at them, and let everything else go. Bad weeks are not forever. Turn this week around and look for the good. You can do it. You know you can. You are awesome, so make the rest of the week awesome. Be the awesome.
Teacher, your students love you. You know that they do. It may not seem like it after the week you have had, but they do love you. Be patient. Be understanding. Be awesome to them. They will awesome you back. I promise. Pick a couple that need extra patience and care…give them that patience and care, and they may turn and influence the rest of your students! It gets better. It will get better. Just wait for the better and do not give up.
Teacher, administration is just doing their job. Even if things seem over the top, just do what you do best. Focus on your kids. Let every choice you make be traced back to what is best for your students. Things will usually pan out in your favor if you do. You are great at your job. You are awesome! Do not stress out. Do not let the pressure make you think less of yourself. Keep on being the best teacher you can be. Take the criticism and let it make you better. If it is undeserved, then find a way to move past it. I know you can. You are awesome. Remember, whatever it is, it will soon pass…or at least pass eventually! Keep teaching, Teacher. Keep pressing on!

Issues Outside of School (pick the one you need):

Teacher, you have a job to do. I know it is hard, but find a way to leave what is heavy on your mind and heart at the doorway of your classroom. Love your kids. Turn your stress and pressure into a motivation to show your students how much you care. Slow down at school. Enjoy what you love doing: teaching. You are a teacher because you love it. Love what you do and let that help you relieve some of that outside stress. You can leave all of that until the afternoon. You are awesome. You are a professional. Push through that personal pain and be the awesome teacher that you are! Let your students love you through whatever it is.
Teacher, you are not on your own. You are surrounded by teachers that understand. Talk to someone you trust. Let them help you carry your burden. If you need some time to yourself today, find someone to help you work that out. Your fellow teachers understand. We have all had those times. Do not carry this alone if you do not have to. When life gets to be too much, you can not let that affect your relationship with your students. Find someone to help. Help is out there and ready. You are not alone!

Summer Time Teacher (I can’t address everything, but hopefully you can find something to apply):

Teacher, you are on a break, but you are still a teacher. Relax, but do not get lazy. Get something ready for next year. Work on something today. Find something cool you can do in the coming year. Read a book or search for one to start. Don’t forget who you are on the inside…a teacher. Research, talk to other teachers, brainstorm…do something! You are awesome and I know you will think about teaching in some way…and that is one of those reasons you are a great teacher!
Teacher, STOP working. Take a break. Next year will get here soon enough. Spend time with your friends and family. Play with your kids, if you have them. Spend time with your significant other, if you have one. See some friends. Do something that is not school related. As a matter of fact, do not think about school at all. You are an awesome teacher, but take a break! You do not have to be Teacher of the Year over the summer. Relax and recharge for next year. Your students need you to!

Okay, I know I have not addressed everything. I hope I wrote something that helps you! You are awesome, Teacher! You are believed in! You are cared for! Go out and do something awesome today!

Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

For more hope and encouragement: @DearTeacherLT (Twitter) and Dear Teacher/Love Teacher Facebook Page.

Choose Positive, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers

Running on Empty

Posted on May 28, 2013May 30, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

How are you feeling? Are you ready for this week? If you are not on summer break yet, you are probably just coming off of a long weekend. Are you ready for this week? Are you rested and ready to go? Are you prepared to meet this week head-on?

Several months ago, after a trip to the grocery store, I was looking at our refrigerator. It is a wonderful feeling to have your cupboards and fridge stocked. You know that you have enough food to last a while. There is security and comfort in that. You do not have to worry about having something to eat, at least not right now. You are full and so is your kitchen. It feels pretty good.

It does not take long for that to change. You go back to the fridge, there is a lot less. You look in the cabinents, and it is harder to find what you might want. Supplies are becoming more limited. You have food, but just not as much. The securtiy and comfort there had decreased.

Then comes the point at which you go to get something, and there is not much left at all. The fridge and cupboards are almost empty. You look for what you are craving, but it is not there. You make due with what you have, but it is by far not what you want. Your rations are sparce. The security and comfort is almost gone. It is time to go back to the store and stock up all over again. Your house is running on empty, and it is time for a fill-up.

This is the same way with our energy, enthusiasm, and excitement about teaching. Sometimes we are full. Sometimes we are empty. And most of the time we are somewhere in between.

The full times are wonderful. We are brimming to the top with ideas, patience, and love for our students. Going the extra mile is easy becuase we have extra to give. We are a full refrigerator ready to give out food and drink that fills other people up and gives them what they need to live and be vibrant, too. We are roaring and ready to go. We do not need a pep talk, we are the pep talk. Maybe you are there right now, especially after a long weekend. Ride out this high and enjoy it, Teacher! Memories of these times are often what help us get though the low times. Do good in your fullness and remember it well!

The empty times are awful. They are, for the most part, the opposite of the full times. You have nothing to give. You are tired. Patience is out of the window. Excitement left a long time ago. You are on the edge of burn-out or already fallen off of that cliff in to the abyss of teacher exhaustion. You have nothing left in your tank, yet you have to keep on giving. You are the scene in the inspirational education movie (e.i…Stand and Deliver) where the protagonist is ready to give up and call it quits. You don’t know if you can keep doing this. At least not this year. Maybe you are there. We have all been there. Some of us get there once a school year. Teacher, don’t give up! You can make it! You ARE awesome and you ARE making a difference!

Then there are the highs and lows in the middle of these extremes. You are up. You are down. You are all around. We spend most of our time somewhere in the middle. You are probably here right now. Some days are better than others. You get close to the top or close to the bottom, but you keep leveling out. This is not a bad place to be. This is where we pace ourselves as teachers. Teaching is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint. Keep pressing on, Teacher.

No matter where you are, remember why you are a teacher. To make a difference in the lives of your students, both for now and their future. If you are full, enjoy that awesome time of fullness! If you are empty, remember you full times and find one or two students that you can focus the remaining energy on. If you are somewhere in the middle…trudge through and press on. Pace yourself and focus your energy where it will do the most good. You can’t do everything!

Also, remember you students are people, too. They are either empty, full, or somewhere in between, just like you. You may or may not know what they have going on at home. Try to work with them and be understanding. Use your knowledge of them to judge whether or not you think they may be at an empty time. If they are, use what you have to fill them up. Teach them how to know and how to ask for help. You are their model, and you are their grocery store. Keep your students as full as you can!

Oh, and look out for your colleagues. Help them through the empty times. Glean off of them in their full times. You are all in this together!

Teacher, thanks for reading this long post! You are awesome! I hope this gives you some hope and encouragement! Pass this on to someone you think needs it the most.

You are a great and wonderful teacher, in full times and empty times. Do what you do best! Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

For more hope and encouragement: @DearTeacherLT (Twitter) and Dear Teacher/Love Teacher Facebook Page.

Challenge, Hope For Students, Hope for Teachers, Note to Teachers

Pride Comes Before…Success

Posted on May 23, 2013May 23, 2013 by Dear Teacher/Love Teacher

Dear Teacher,

What effect does pride have on you? No, not pride in yourself…though there can be power in that…I mean pride that someone else has in you. What does it do for you to know that someone is really and truly proud of you? How does it feel to hear that from them? What good does it do your your heart, soul, and mind to have someone in your corner, cheering you on, beaming with pride?

Do your students have this in their life?

I am inspired to write about this because of my last class of the day yesterday. As I looked around while they worked, and I had such a feeling of pride. I am so proud of them. I am proud of that class and all of my other classes. They have risen up to meet my expectations this year…and I have very high expectations for my students. I am really, and utterly proud of my students. They are so AWESOME!

Can you look around at your students today and find things to be proud of about them? I would challenge you to try.

And more than that, I challenge you to tell them.

As I looked at my class yesterday, it hit me that I am often struck by proud feelings about them but I do not say it often. They should know how proud I am of them. I need to tell them more often. Pride changes things. Pride helps you want to work harder. Pride makes you strive for success. I need to share how proud I am of my students, and in turn they will keep working hard for more success to make me even prouder of them.

I recently took on the task of writing a personal note to each of my students. In it I tell them how proud I am of them and how awesome they are. I have seen some changes in students just because of these letters. They want to make me proud because I am proud of them. Hope and pride is the light at the end of the tunnel. My students are starting to see the light, and some are running for it as soon as they see it. It is so cool to watch them run towards success and achievement.

Tell your students how proud you are of them today. Write some quick notes. Inject some hope into their lives by giving them some fuel that can ignite into the fire of success. You are proud of them. Let them know!

You are awesome, Teacher. I am proud of you. You do all you can to get your students to see and live up to (and past) their potential. Keep on teaching, Teacher!

Love, Teacher

For more hope and encouragement: @DearTeacherLT