Students don't learn from people that they don't like or respect. I want my students to like me enough to learn from me, but respect me enough to not take advantage of my compassion. As petty as it may sound, having a student tell you that "you are the best teacher" or "a great English teacher" or "I wish you taught that class" is worth all of the strife caused by apathetic and disrespectful students.
Today I had several experiences of student gratitude that make the struggle and juggle of teacher life more manageable.
Student One is new to me this year, a journalism student of mine that is extremely sweet and obviously needs help with "your" and "you're". She wrote this note on the board while I introduced a new student to interviewing skills. When I saw the note my OCD-side said "don't write on the board!" while my heart said "thank you!".
Student Two is a known trouble-maker; a junior with a bad past that I am trying to look beyond. As I went over the rhetoric notes I fielded questions and comments that clarified the rhetorical terminology. Student Two had a few epiphanies that led him to state "Ms. F, you are the best English teacher. For real." Teenagers are impassioned and hyperbolic, but statements like this drive teachers and make us feel like progress is possible.
Student Three is a former AP student that lovingly drops by to harass me with sarcasm, help me around the classroom, and occasionally ask for academic guidance. After school today he stopped by for help with a theme essay about a William Carlos Williams short story that I had never read. I delved in to the text, questioned his understanding, and helped him come to a thematic statement and an essay outline. By the end of my "lesson" he said "I wish you taught AP Lit" - a statement that I love and hate to hear. He has a great AP Lit teacher and he knows it. But I am here to help when I can, and I am grateful that he wants to ask for my feedback. I am happy to help!
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