It's that time of year again.
Fortunately, I serve in an amazing school system that values people more than numbers. However, the pressure remains.
I waste time fretting about all of the factors
that are beyond my control. Details of their lives that desperately
need my attention go unnoticed because my attention is elsewhere.
My
classroom is my sanctuary. I get to become the best version of myself
as I enter the door to Room 134. I love my work, and to me, it is not a
"job." It is one of my favorite identities.
The anxiety of testing relegates my work to a job.. a performance. It is as if
someone extracted the light bulb from within a lamp in order to examine
the bulb's wattage and design. We undermine the efficacy and purpose of
the bulb when we dismantle its parts.
The potential of a human, no matter how small, is so much greater than the sum of its parts.
It
is with this conviction that I compose these thoughts. Last year, I
wrote about my 21 Reasons Why... in this season, I hold fast to 22
reminders. These are the precious moments that I treasure and value.
These are my glimpses at the elusive sums of unquantifiable parts- each
one uniquely brilliant and breathtaking. As I reflect upon this school
year, the quantifiable data will depreciate in its value and
consequence, while these are the stories and attributes that I want to
remember in the years to come.
1) I want to remember "Strom"
Wars and your subdued laughter. I want remember the way you light up
with an insatiable curiosity when we begin a new science unit. I want
to remember the feeling I had when your mom told me that you claimed
that I was the "best" teacher you ever had. It was only the third week
of school, and while your sentiments may have since changed, I have
spent every day trying to be that kind of teacher- the kind you deserve-
the "best" kind. Most of all, I want to remember the way your peers
are transformed and inspired by your kindness. Everyone is excited when
assigned to your group because they are familiar with your work ethic,
your compassion, and your humble leadership.
2) I want
to remember every, "I Love You, Mrs. Hecker." I want to hold on to
every hug. I want to recall your overwhelming joy for the small things-
the gorilla video... the morning meeting gifs... the "interesting"
pieces of artwork at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I want to
remember your love for your peers- your desire to invite everyone to
each "Lunch Bunch" purchased at the Hecker Store. I want to remember
your questions, your honesty, your frequent gifts of fruit in the
mornings. I want to remember feeling so loved by a little boy who
exemplifies the empathy that our world often lacks.
3) I
want to remember the way you invited the new student to eat lunch with
you on his first day at Randolph. I want to remember your desire to do
well- your excitement when your grades reflect what I have known all
along- that you are brilliant. I want to remember the way I felt when I
met you on Back To School Night, and you told me that before I even
knew your name, you wanted to be in my classroom. I cling to those
words every day, and I feel so privileged and humbled to be your
teacher.
4) I want to remember sitting next to you at
Theatre IV. You talked to me about your sisters and your grandmother.
You were in our class for a few months, but your fingerprints remain,
and your absence is felt every day. I want to remember the way you
protected and cared for your siblings. I want to remember your
resilience. I want to remember the way you challenged my definition of
strength. Sometimes strength is quiet, and sometimes it is loud. And
sometimes strength looks like a little boy. I want to remember your
passion, and I hope it never dims.
5) I want to
remember the way you light up when given well-deserved accolades. I
want to remember the look on your face when I showed up at your house
the first time- so much confusion and gratitude. I want to remember the
crafts that you bring me occasionally... the small gestures that
decorate my white board and lift my spirit. I look at them every
morning and absorb your kind words- they remind me of why I love what I
do and why it is important. I want to remember your humility, your
quiet perseverance, and your kindness- towards your teachers and your
peers. You keep your burdens like secrets, safeguarded. Despite life's
injustice, you quietly strive for excellence. You do not make excuses.
You never give pity a foothold. I want to remember your quiet hope...
your humble perseverance. These qualities convict and inspire me every
day.
6) I want to remember the way you positively affect everyone around you.
Your optimism and work ethic set you apart, and your peers enjoy working
with you. I want to remember the way you insist that your classmates
give you a "high-five" before they leave school each day. You make
others feel important and valued. I want to remember the way you laugh
at your own silly jokes. Your laughter is infectious, and your joy
makes our classroom into a more positive place.
7) I
want to remember your infectious humor and quick wit. I want to
remember finally earning that first hug. I want to remember all of the
small ways you have left your comfort zone this year and demonstrated a
level of empathy that is rarely realized by adults. I want to remember
the way you recognize and affirm excellence. You admire your peers'
accomplishments with sincere gratitude, and they ascend to meet your
high praise. I want to remember reviewing the cell city group
reflections-- you were the only person within your group that did not
perceive your own contributions as worthy of a perfect score. Your
reflective insight humbled my own pride. I want to remember your
frequent questions, your eager desire to help, your passion for growth-
in yourself and in your peers. I want to remember your bright
personality that lifted the entire dynamic within our classroom and
raised the limits of the possible to new heights.
8) I
want to remember your overwhelming enthusiasm for European history. I
want to remember the feeling that I had when you told me that you chose
Creative Writing as your elective for 6th grade-- following a year of
disassembling your tearful misconceptions about "good" writers. You are
an outstanding writer, and you have been all along-- you just didn't
know it. I want to remember the way you get so excited when you make a
connection or have something to share-- it's as if someone has shaken a
soda bottle, and you can barely wait for the explosion of thoughts and
information to rush forth and baptize the audience in an unexpected
surge of facts and stories. I hope that I exude that much passion into
my teaching.
9) I want to remember your creativity
and attention to detail- the way you can make a piece of paper into
something beautiful and unexpected. You possess such an exceptional
gift in your ability to see purpose and utility for the parts and pieces
that most of us simply discard. You see beauty in the forsaken bits. I
pray for this gift- to see what is easily overlooked, to appreciate
it... to make its beauty evident. You are unafraid of independence.
Your vision compels you, and the end product is always awe-inspiring. I
want to remember your determination, your creativity, and your quiet
sensitivity to each detail.
10) I want to remember your
laughter. Every one in our class enjoys working with you because they
know that laughter is a guaranteed byproduct. I think that twenty years
from now, I will still know the sound of your laughter because I hear
it 23,485,492 times each day, and I pray I never take it for granted. I
believe that God gifts certain individuals with beacons of immutable
joy. No matter the circumstance, these individuals emit warmth and
positivity. They are unafraid to laugh at their own expense. You
possess such a precious gift. Your peers feel it, and we are all better
for it.
11) I want to remember your sincerity. I want
to remember your sweet southern drawl, your compassion for all
creatures, and your desire to succeed. You are so bright and so kind.
You are perhaps one of the most compassionate and most polite little
boys I have ever met. You advocate for your peers when needed, and you
exemplify respect. You have gained the respect and admiration of
everyone in our classroom because you are considerate, genuine, and
diligent. You have such a big heart filled to the brim with kindness.
Our classroom is a more benevolent place because you are a part of it.
12) I want to remember your humble and quiet leadership. In one of my
favorite books, Katherine Applegates purports that "Humans waste words.
They toss them like banana peels and leave them to rot. Everyone knows
the peels are the best part," (The One and Only Ivan). While
you may appear more reserved than your peers, your silence speaks louder
than wasted words. You share your thoughts when it is timely, but you
allow others to speak first without interruption or complaint. You are a
fantastic listener, and your positive choices speak louder than
our reckless words. Your peers enjoy being with you because you lead by
example. You listen intently before sharing your thoughts-- the world
could use more individuals like you. Our classroom is a more respectful
place because you are a part of it.
13) I want to
remember your audacity... your silly side... your sassy tenacity. Every
day as we walk inside from recess, you magically make your way to the
front of the line and tell me hyperbolic stories with dramatic emotion.
While my attention is often pulled elsewhere, I treasure your stories
and extravagant theatrics. It is perhaps my favorite part of the day. I
love your stories, your songs, and your bold emotions. When you are
absent, the class feels it all day, but I feel it most during that walk
from the pavilion to the backdoor.
14) I want to
remember your ingenuity. I want to remember the way you pursue your
goals with an unparalleled quiet determination. On Back to School
Night, you entered my classroom and immediately shook my hand. You
introduced yourself and expressed your intent to apply for the position
of classroom banker. I was so impressed, and in that moment, I knew
that being your teacher would be an enormous privilege. You are a
valued friend because of your humble leadership and kindness.
15)
I want to remember the first time I witnessed your "silly side." You
introduced yourself by a new nickname, and it immediately stuck. I want
to remember the way you can illuminate the entire classroom with your
smile. Your peers enjoy your company because of your positivity and fun
ideas. I want to remember your Toontastic video with the character
that looked like you and your "Johnny Appleseed" presentation. I love
seeing your personality reflected in your projects. I want to remember
your determination to learn and to succeed, and the pride that we share
when you exceed your goals. Our classroom is a more joyful place
because you are a part of it.
16) I want to remember
the way you recognize needs and fill them without being asked. You
possess a beautiful gift in your ability to perceive when and where help
is required. You are an excellent friend, and your kindness is a force
within our classroom. You quickly filled the role of "best friend" for
several of your classmates who really needed your affirmation,
encouragement, and influence. I want to remember your kindness, your
compassion, and your sensitivity to others' needs.
17) I
want to remember your genuine interest in your peers. In the fall, you
were given a writing assignment- to describe your goals and ambitions
for fifth grade. I was impressed by your response; you wrote about
becoming an advocate for your classmates. This year, you have been a
proponent and trusted friend to every student within our classroom. I
am so grateful for the way that you care for your peers and for the way
they trust you. You challenge and inspire all of us with your endless
grace, patience, and altruism.
18) I want to
remember your friendship with Ms. Selma, your curiosity, and your love
of stories. Every Tuesday, I look at the back table, and you and Ms.
Selma are preoccupied sharing life experiences. While it takes you
longer to get your contract work done, I do not mind because I know that
the relationship takes precedence, and you are learning from a
fantastic teacher. I am so grateful for the way you interact with our
volunteers and classroom guests. Classroom visitors always remember
your name because of the way you engage in conversations. I want to
remember your insatiable interest in the world around you and the people
in it.
19) I want to remember your eloquence and
independence. You are self-motivated and driven to succeed. I want to
remember the way you humbly and selflessly make positive choices without
want of praise or acknowledgement-- simply because it is the right
thing to do. Whether it's picking up another student's trash, walking
silently in the hallways, or helping a peer get packed-up for early
dismissal, I know that I can trust you to set a positive example. You
never ask for permission or seek my approval, therefore it may seem that
your actions and choices are frequently unnoticed. However, your
fingerprints of kindness are felt by everyone in our classroom. I know
that all of your peers will strive for more when placed in your small
group or when sitting beside you because your character creates an
atmosphere of excellence. I want to remember the strength of your
character- the sum of the wordless choices that challenges all of us to
be better.
20) I want to remember your excitement for
daily routines. You get so thrilled for Mystery Number Mondays, Bubble
Pop Review Games, and Kahoot. It makes me feel valued as your teacher,
and it creates an environment of engagement within our classroom. Your
gratitude for these routine activities inspires and challenges me in my
lesson planning. Your anticipated response is often my motivation for
creating more engaging tasks and games to use during daily instruction.
I want to remember your encouragement and appreciation for me as your
teacher. For most students, the excitement and appreciation of a new
teacher wears off after the first nine weeks, but you have continued to
express your gratitude for me and for your Room 134 family every day.
21)
I want to remember your dependability. You are perhaps the most
responsible 10 year old I have ever met. I love the way you help your
peers. You hold them accountable while still treating them with
kindness and positivity. Your classmates enjoy working with you because
they know that they can trust you to lead them to success. I want to
remember the way you seek opportunities to help, and you selflessly
volunteer your time to assist others without complaint. You are a
dynamic leader among your peers. You work well with any and everyone,
and you bring out the best in others.
22) Even though you have only been with us for a short time, I want to remember your
sweet
voice, your desire to please your teachers, and your kindness for your
peers. You are adaptable, and you quickly became a fundamental part of
our Room 134 family. You are a good friend to your classmates, and they
are so encouraged by your presence. You are a priceless addition to
our class, and we are all so grateful for you.
Today,
as you begin MAPs testing, I want to hold fast to who you are. Data can
quantify certain attributes, but the sum is much greater. You are much
greater.