This week is Teacher Appreciation Week and this is the first year that kids can't celebrate and thank their teachers for their amazing teaching ways. Being in quarantine has showcased to parents how much teachers actually do to educate their children 180 days every school year. It has also showcased in extreme light the difference between great teachers, good teachers, okay teachers and the bad ones. Even though we are in quarantine away from our teachers and our students I think that its important to show a little recognition to our educators.
We now see with the world shut down all that teachers do, many now we understand why teachers often say that they are under-paid and under-loved. Parents are at home with a handful of kids but teachers are in a class with over 30 students sometimes teaching multiple subjects. My social media platforms have been going crazy with memes and status' about how much teachers are being missed and now that they understand why the teachers were overworked. This pandemic is making teachers shine as essential workers rather than convenient.
Don't get me wrong I totally get the parent frustration of the work overload that kids are receiving but these teachers are trying to cram (13 weeks of) learning into an online setting on the fly as this was not planned or anticipated so that kids will not be behind next year. Just think about the time that it is taking for these teachers to create and upload these assignments online. Some teacher are now doing more work than they were before this whole pandemic. We live in a tech savvy world but my heart goes out to those teachers who aren't up on technology.
Special shout out to all of the teachers that I had, they all helped shape me into who I am. Each one taught me different skills that I now use today in my teaching methods. Who would have thought that I would have actually went on to being an educator myself. I remember being in Mrs. Smith's class on career day and I was the only one that said I wanted to be a teacher and many looked at me like what the heck, because they wanted to be models, singers, actors and ballerinas but I was just set on being a teacher. Of course over my high school years I thought that I would go the arts way because multi media was my love but the cost of those colleges made me rethink that quick. So in college I ran past nursing, counseling, day care and nutritionist to name a few but of course I came back to teaching a few semesters in.
Below is a list of the teachers that helped inspire me along the way:
Ambler Elementary School
Kinder: Mrs. Peaks
1st: Mrs. Smith
2nd: Mrs. Dunn
3rd: Mrs. Black
4th: Mrs. Cox 5th: Mrs. Varner
Curtis Middle School
6th: Mr Kay (Music Teacher)
7th: Ms. Lewis (Science)
Cesar Chavez Middle School
8th: Mr Williams (English & History)
Tennyson High School
9th: Mr Ali (English)
10th: Mr Williams (Geometry)
11th: Ms. Okolie (Multi-media)
12th: Mr Amsler (Journalism & Video Journalism)
College:
Ms TJ (English 1A. English 4, Creative Writing, Fiction Writing, Poetry)
Mrs. Anderson (African American Literature)
Mr Oliver (Statistics)
Of course I had many more teachers than these, but these are the ones that stand out to me and I always remember feeling inspired in their classrooms.
I remember my first student teaching experience at Eldridge Elementary School, I for sure channeled my past teachers in my teaching methods and it brought me great success. I for one am very proud to say that almost all of the teachers that I had were ones that actually loved their job. They would come to work daily ready to work, share their love of education and were willing to do all they could to make you pass their class and leave with a clear understanding. As I got older I realized how lucky I was because so many teachers are just over it but in it for a check, or they just push the kids on out year after year not making sure that their students are truly ready. So I always told myself I would be like the example that I was given. While student teaching, a few of the girls in my 3rd grade class shared with me that they were excited that they had me in there because I was younger so I understood things of the time and also that it was great to have someone of their own culture teaching them and I totally understood.
What grade were you in when you had a teacher that was the same race as you?
A great teacher learns from their students as well and I have so many of those amazing stories to tell, so I will just share a few:
Jay'Miiah taught me that even first days at new schools can be hard for teachers
Ronald taught me that students become family
Haely taught me that imaginations live on
Aldo taught me that busy bodies happen when kids run thru work
Roniyah taught me that patience and love is needed at all times
Rickys taught me that even though kids grow up fast these days, you can always release their inner kid
Imani taught me that teaching is where my heart is
I am currently on my 7th year as an educator and even after this pandemic I will be back because I know that the kids need me just as much as I need them. Being a young minority teacher from a similar location as theirs helps me educate them in a way that I know will benefit them. When you have a passion as such it would be a shame to chase money and settle, instead of education our future leaders of the world.
So this week when your kids are zooming with their teachers tell them to thank their teachers, they can draw them a picture and hold it up (we actually love when our students make us things), ask them how they are, tell them you miss them and just smile when you see them come onto the screen.
To all of my fellow educators thank you for all that you do!
I also wanted to share this list of educator perks that you can use this week:
1800Flowers.com: NEA members can save 20% on flowers and gift baskets.
23andMe: Teachers save $20 to $100 on select DNA kits.
Adobe Creative Cloud: Teachers save 60% off monthly Creative Cloud subscriptions.
Ann Taylor LOFT: Teachers save 15% off full-price purchases.
Apple: Apple Education Pricing is available to teachers on select devices.
Barnes & Noble: Get 20% off purchases for classroom use throughout the year, and 25% off purchases during Educator Appreciation Days.
Ben Franklin Crafts: Save 10% on classroom materials.
Bookmans: Get 20% off all purchases.
Books-a-Million: Get 20% off purchases for the classroom with a BAM Educator’s card.
Budget Truck Rental: Teachers get 20% off local moves and 15% off one-way moves.
Bunion Bootie: Teachers get 10% off their purchase with SheerID verification.
Coolframes.com: Teachers get a 5% discount on frames.
Costco: NEA members will receive a $30 Costco Shop Card with a new Costco membership and access to more than 500 member-only warehouse locations across the country.
Dagne Dover: When you register with Dagna Dover, you can get 20% off purchases.
Dick Blick Art Supplies: Get 10% off art supplies for the classroom.
Eduporium: Get a 20% discount on most products.
E-Z Rent a Car: Teachers get a 10% discount.
GE Appliances Store: NEA members receive several discounts and free delivery on appliances costing more than $399.
GelPro: Get 25% off your purchase of cushioned floor mats.
GM Educator Discount: Current employees of a public school, private school, college or university can enjoy special pricing below MSRP on the purchase or lease of eligible, new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicles.
Half Price Books: Get 10% off purchases when you sign up for the Half Price Books Educator’s card.
Hertz Rent a Car: NEA members can save 25% on rentals.
J. Crew: Get 5% off for in-store purchases.
Joann: Teachers save 15% on purchases.
Karen Kane: Teachers get a 20% discount.
Lakeshore Learning: Save 15% when you join the Teacher’s Club.
Michael’s: Get 20% off every purchase.
Microsoft: Educators will get Office 365 free, plus 10% off Windows devices.
National Geographic Geno 2.0: Teachers get $50 off on Geno 2.0 DNA kits for classroom use.
National Rent a Car: NEA members save up to 20% on rentals.
Pencils.com: Sign up to receive a 10% discount on purchases.
Pure Formulas: Get 10% off when you use your ID.me verification.
SIXT Rent a Car: Teachers get a 5% discount on rentals.
The Container Store: The Organized Teacher program offers educators discounts throughout the year.
Thriftbooks: Used classroom book sets are 20% off for teachers.
T-Mobile: Save $100 on smartphones and tablets with a new-line activation.
TOMS: Teachers get a 10% off their purchase with SheerID verification.
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