A Lesson Learned

As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to make my lessons fun, exciting and motivating.  I work and prepare, I prep and review.  A ton of work and time go into preparing each lesson but it’s the lessons that are learned when you least expect it, that make being a teacher the most rewarding job.  It’s the smile on the face of my student who proudly brings me his completed work without having to be asked.  Or the special moment when one student touches the shoulder of his friend to let him know it’s his turn all on his own.  It is the giggling and laughing from the students when they are dancing with each other or bouncing on the huge, blow up pillow and taking turns but don’t even realize it. Not only am I teaching lessons but there are many lessons my students have taught me that I have had to remind myself to use with my own children.  For instance, they have taught me that it is far better to be patient with my own kids and give them time to do what I ask and most likely it will get done.  I also must remind myself that I want my children to be independent, so I need to stop doing for them and have them do it themselves. My students have also taught me that it’s not always the words that are spoken, but the proud moments and huge smiles on their faces that speak the loudest.  I know I am learning just as much from my students as they are learning from me.  I often ask myself, “Who is the teacher here?”  (Janean Mancini, Teacher, Celebrate the Children)