Sam and the wonderful Pre-K teacher both boys had!
When I was a classroom teacher, I knew how important I was. I knew that parents trusted me with their most precious possessions. I knew that for some kids….I was the only adult in their life who cared. I was aware of this each and everyday those buses pulled up and dropped off my students. Now that I am a mom with kids in school, I am seeing things from a whole new perspective.
I saw my oldest son struggle with stress and fear when he started kindergarten. Much of this was due to the classroom atmosphere of chaos and the lack of the administration to see this as an issue. After we took steps to move him, I saw my old Jake come back. He loved school again (like he did in Pre-K with some wonderful teachers) and my stress for him was gone. As we moved into the 2009-2010 school year I could breath easy knowing my younger son would walk into that same caring, loving classroom and that Jake was going to be in 1st grade with another great teacher.
Teachers need to know their content, their standards and teaching strategies, but there is much more to being a teacher. Some people have it and some don’t. I have now seen that from both sides of the classroom and everyday I am thankful that my boys have teachers with that special “it” factor. My boys feel loved, safe and important at school. Every child deserves that and I just hope parents can recognize it when they have it and say a simple thank you.
Have your kids had some wonderful teachers? What made them special? How did you say thank you?
Tags: caring, kelly gump. thanks, onslow memorial hospital, safe, school, teachers, thankful
Oh I love this post!! A teacher who cares the way you described is a Mother’s saving grace!! To me, knowing my child is shown love through discipline and structure is the greatest gift anyone could give me as a Mother!!!