While sitting in your high school class, I sometimes dreaded being there and I am sure I had the occasional eye roll behind your back. I am going to be honest, I did not necessarily enjoy reading The Crucible and acting the parts out.
Nor did I fully understand the significance of the Socratic seminar because the last thing I wanted to do was speak in class. I sighed at the thought of interviewing strangers and having to then write about them.
I wanted to rely simply on emails, but that would not fly; social interaction was a must in your class and my introverted self strongly disliked that.
As a high school student, all of this seemed pointless and that it really would not help me in the future. The class was difficult and I was not up for a challenge. How could something I did my junior year of high school really impact me throughout college and the rest of my career? Well, it clearly has and I am here now to say thank you.
I sit through my reading instruction courses and methods courses and learn a plethora of comprehension activities that will apparently have an impact on students. I learn that Reader's Theater and classroom discussions are some of the best ways for a student to fully grasp literature.
I sometimes wonder the legitimacy of these until I think back to my own experiences and your class comes to mind. I start to understand the methods to your madness and why it was so crucial for us to speak the role of a character during the Salem Witch Trials or have a student-led discussion of The Great Gatsby.
During my college classes, I also learn how technology can sometimes take over classrooms and social interaction is extremely limited. Students tend to hide behind their screen and not feel the need to speak face-to-face with anybody. I now realize the importance of interviewing someone in person, rather than sending mass emails.
Doing this gave me speaking and listening skills, that seemed useless at the time, but ones I still use today. It allowed me to build personal connections with people which is vital, especially in the education field.
Yes, your strategies and teaching styles have made me a better learner and future teacher. However, the thing that separates you from showing me what it means to be a teacher and what it means to be a great teacher is the connection you build with students. In any education class, I have been in, getting to know students is the number one priority.
You have truly exemplified that. Your classroom was like a second home. Your kind presence was a safe haven. You cared so deeply about your students, even the ones who made teaching tough. Even in your most difficult classes, you find a way to build a community and a safe learning environment that students need.
You started as just another high school teacher and quickly became one of my best mentors and supporter. You always made sure to check up on me during rough times and continue to do so even three years after I graduated.
As I am way too quickly approaching college graduation and having a classroom of my own, I just wanted to share the true impact you had on me. I hope I am half as a great of a teacher as you one day.
