Back to School

I guess it is officially time to get ready to go back to school. Many of my graduates have posted things on facebook about moving in to college or attending their first college classes. My brothers are headed back to college. I'm headed in to work tomorrow to discuss the beginning of the school year. I guess it is really happening.

While I was in college, I join the education honor society. One of our fundraisers was a long sleeve t-shirt with a poem on it called "What Teachers Make". I think it pretty much sums up my hopes for each school year.

What Teachers Make

By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com

You want to know what I make?

I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional medal of honor
and an A- feel like a slap in the face.
How dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's why.

I make parents tremble in fear when I call home:
I hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder,
I make them question.
I make them criticize.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them write, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful
over and over and over again until they will never misspell
either one of those words again.
I make them show all their work in math.

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true:
I make a difference! What about you?