Some back to school thoughts

I'm taking a little break from a true tech post on this one. Although what I'm going to talk about I learned through social media, so it is sort of tech related. I'll be back with some more tech blogs soon I promise. I've got a list that I am working, so little by little I will get those posted. Monday officially marks our first day back and then the kids come back the following Monday. So with that day drawing close, I've been doing some thinking.

I was blessed to grow up with some amazing teachers. Teachers who got to know their students, who took time with them, and who went the extra mile. I went into teaching because I wanted to be that teacher to the students I came in contact with. Things haven't always gone as planned, but I have learned a lot over the last year about what I had on the inside of me. I've also learned that people will not begin to value what you do, until you value who you are. If you don't place an importance on the job you are doing in the classroom, other people will not pay attention to it either. You very well may be that child's whole entire world. You make a difference one way or another, the choice is yours.

I heard about this book through Twitter. I'm so excited about taking advantage of this PLN opportunity. A couple of people that I follow were doing a book study on this book and their discussion/chat took place online one night. So through the hash tags I was able to follow. I was so intrigued by what they had to say I knew I had to read the book. The book is called "Do you know enough about me to teach me"?". It is short and a very easy read. It is written from a students' perspective and gives teachers an insight on to what students really think. A main theme in the book is on establishing relationships and teaching your students as you would want your own children taught. Knowing your students and laying that foundation will allow you to teach academics and so much more. So, do you know enough about your students to teach them?

I saw this idea on Facebook from a Children's Pastor. They had been given a jar of marbles that contained one for ever week they had until their child graduated high school. The object was to take one out each week as it passed. The point was to hopefully realize how precious time that was left and to make each week count. It's not always about quantity, but quality. So this is a focal point for my area next year. I'm going to put it up where I can see it and each week I will take one of the pom-pom's out. There are 36 in here total. I'm not counting down the weeks because I'm ready for summer again, no this is to remind me how much time I have left to make a difference and to make it count.

The age old quote applies to kids. They really do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. Kids need to know you care about them, then they will listen to all you want to teach them. Go into this year remembering why you do what you do. You are a difference maker, you are a cheerleader, you are a hero, and for some kids you are what is right in their world. Don't let them down. You may not always see the difference you make, but you are making it one child at a time.

Until next time,
~Melissa