To my kids....

Teaching is typically thought of as a one-way endeavor.  It's usually a teacher's job to influence students.  We are given the task of molding minds and shaping young people in an effort to ready them for "the real world", whatever that means.  We teach students how to think logically in math and evaluate story lines in literature and how to find Europe on a map in Geography and how to use the scientific method.  We teach foreign language, sportmanship, how to write an essay and how to play an instrument or put together a newscast.  Very rarely is much attention placed on how much students teach their teachers.   So let me turn the tables on you a little and tell you what YOU have done for me.

You teach me how to juggle.  Having 28 students in one class, all doing different projects, all needing my help or attention and most yelling my name asking for keys, or to check out equipment or to tell me that the edit system has a problem, while others need hugs or discipline or to be chased after is tiring and challenging.  Somehow, I manage to keep all the plates spinning in the air, most of the time without dropping one.  Oh, I'll miss someone's request for my attention here and there, but I almost always get to you.  

You teach me patience.  Watching you SLOWLY learn a new skill is more rewarding than frustrating.  I love seeing you get it and get excited about learning something new, even though it takes you 4 days to learn it!  Before I became a teacher, I had little patience for those who took too long to complete a task.  Usually, I'd end up doing it myself.  I've learned from you that if I wait long enough, you'll get it and to step in and do it myself is a disservice to you.

You teach me that I'm needed and loved.  There are days when I come to work not feeling very good about myself or feeling blue and you always are there for me.  Whether it's because you need me to extract a broken tape out of the VCR or because you notice that I'm a little off and you offer a hug, I feel needed and loved. And, also that Jocelyn (Not Kayla!) wrote in the blog that I was needed more.  There is also the flip side of this and that's when you want me to go away and not be in the control room during a show, or not in the hotel hot tub when you're playing truth or dare at the Student Television Network Convention in Orlando!  

You teach me to ask for what I want.  Because your social "filters" are not always well developed, when you want something you ask for it, no matter how ridiculous or out of touch it might be.  That's refreshing.....and the answer is still "no".

You teach me that friendship knows no bounds or limitations.  When I stand before you every day, I look at a sea of faces that represent a mix of differences.  I see black, white, hispanic, small, medium, large, loud, soft, happy, sad, female, male, talkative, quiet, bossy, submissive, social, lazy, active, and more...all learning, sharing, laughing and enjoying each other's company, in and out of my classroom. I hope that you all keep in touch with each other for years down the road.  

You've taught me that relationships are more important than paperwork or meetings.  I can't tell you how many days I've spent in my office trying to get through piles of work when someone asks me to come look at their video that they are proud of and before long, I realize that there are a bunch of us in the edit room talking and laughing and sharing with each other and I've forgotten about that pile of work.  Of course, the work still needs to get done, but spending quality time with you is more valuable to me in the long run.  I'll remember how I felt when I am around you guys long after I've forgotten what that paperwork was all about.

You've taught me that it's safe to sit back and relax and trust.  On those days when I'm not there, I stress.  Will the show go on?  Will you behave?  Will there be a problem while I'm not there?  Nearly every time, I am delighted that you've taken it upon yourselves, to be adult enough to conduct class and the editorial meeting or do a show when no adult is even in the room.  Some of you have even helped the subs from other teachers in my dept.  I've trained you to be self-sufficient and that is a very valuable life skill.

You've taught me that even though I've never had my own child that it doesn't make me any less of a mom.  I can't tell you how much I enjoyed getting mother's day gifts and text messages all day on Mother's Day saying that even though I didn't give birth to all of you that you think of me as a mom.  What an awesome compliment!  I think of all of you as my children.  I love you just as much as if you were my own.

You've taught me that the expression of love takes many forms.  From hugs that you've given me to notes that you've written to me, to things that you've said to encourage me, to Teacher of the Year videos, to all the wonderful things that other teachers tell me that you say about me and each other makes my heart swell with pride and makes me feel like one special individual.

This is always a tough time of year for me (and no, not just because of the senior video!) because I have to let go of my seniors and the class culture we've built over the year has to give way to a new group of students and a new class culture next year.  This year seems especially difficult for me to let go of.  The seniors that are graduating are students that I've become especially fond of and have close relationships with each and every one of you.  I will never forget your support of me as Teacher of the Year, the ice skating, the band trip, the Kangaroo conservation center, the daily grind of getting your stories done, the hoodies, the music videos (Beyonce') ALL the laughter, your phone calls to make sure I was okay when I had pneumonia and the headaches that sent me to the hospital, the STN trip, the stanky leg, the many, many, many memories that we create with each other throughout the year.  You all are my rock and my hard place!

I have the best job ever!  I never had wanted to be a teacher and even after it fell into my lap, I still wasn't sure.  I'm pretty sure now that I'm right where I need to be and feel like it is alternately the most frustrating and difficult, yet rewarding and exciting job anyone could ever have.  I'm very lucky to have such a great group of students to share my life with; and I hope it's a very long life with lots of sharing.  I love you all with all my heart.  Thank you for being in my life.

Tell me your final thought about this class, your classmates, Eagle TV and give us some closing thoughts.  Then, have a GREAT SUMMER!