Dear Ms. Henzel,
I remember the first time I met you at a school assembly. I was nervous about entering the fourth grade. When you came to my house to introduce yourself, which no teacher had ever done before, I was thrilled! I was glad that you wanted to get to know me as a person, not just as a grade.
Fourth grade was my favorite time in elementary school. I loved how you made your class a fun and accepting environment. You knew how to let the rules be known, while also giving recognition to the students who were behaving. I loved how you had your room decorated with different quotes, including “without geography, you’re nowhere.” Whenever I walked into the classroom, I knew I had found a place where I belonged. I was at my second home.
During elementary school, I had a hard time making friends. I was not the extroverted type. It was tricky finding a place at school where I was fully accepted. Your classroom was that place. You valued what I had to say. Thank you for always taking the time to talk to me.
Before fourth grade, I doubted my math skills. Ms. Henzel, thank you for teaching me to love mathematics. You had a different approach to this subject. Rather than always being serious, you mixed having to be serious at times with fun! There were times students could come into your classroom in the early morning and we would have breakfast while solving math problems. I sometimes complained to my parents about how early it was that I had to come in, but what I didn’t realize is that you had to come in 15 or 20 minutes earlier to get everything ready. You are so dedicated to your students. Getting back to making math fun, I remember you creating a short song about multiples. You helped me learn that math is not something to be feared; it’s something to accept and to appreciate. Thank you.
One last moment I remember is when I returned from a trip to Mexico with my family. I got back late the night before school. My parents let me come in a little later because of this. I was stressed about getting back into the groove. You welcomed me so warmly and we sat down and talked about my trip. There are many other fantastic moments that would take too long to list, but these are the highlights.
Thank you, Ms. Henzel, for inspiring me to be a better person. You taught me much more than the core subjects. You taught me to be generous and kind to others, and you showed me that learning can be fun. You have always been a mentor of mine, and I aspire to be like you. Thank you for seeing beyond my disability and for not underestimating me. I hope to see you sometime soon! Thank you.
Love,
Grace
