Connections

I received this email today on the last day of virtual instruction.

“I hope you know that you are the best math teacher anyone could ever have. Your teaching methods are amazing and you take time to get to know your students and I love you so much! ❤️”

As a teacher, it choked me up and melted my heart. But as I began preparing for my last google meet and last day of remote instruction, I reflected on the school year but more specifically, the last four months and how I have or have not connected with kids, kept them engaged and established relationships. Earlier this week while listening to the news, I heard that the student engagement rate from another school, during remote instruction, was forty percent. I calculated my own informal grade level statistics and discovered ninety-five percent of my students were engaged as some time and in some form throughout this process of remote instruction. I wish I could take all the credit, but I can’t, it was a combined effort of parents, students, administration, counselors, support staff and teachers. Also, there’s that other five percent that I could not reach.

It has been a difficult experience for ALL: parents, teachers, students, and administrators.  As difficult as this experience was, it has taught me many things. Yes, I have honed my technology skills, I have become more flexible and creative, but there is so much more that I have learned.

I have learned how amazing and adaptable my students are in light of some of the struggles they face at home.  I have learned that parents are incredible role models, working essential jobs, taking care of their own children, trying to teach, earn an income and provide for their families. I have confirmed that my 8th grade team is an amazing support system who always put students first. Out of all that I have learned as a result of remote instruction, the most important thing I have learned is how crucial and vital the student connections are to both me and my students. I have always tried to make connections, but now I feel they are more important than ever. No one knows what to expect next year but one thing I do know, that even though I try, next year  I will work even harder on making connections and developing better relationships with my students, because it's the connections and the relationships that really matter.

I'm Here To Stay

    

     With recent negativity associated with education, I have read numerous articles about  professionals who have left teaching.  Now that I am in my 32^nd year of teaching and 55 years young, aside from the fact I still have to pay son’s last year of college, I have been reflecting on when would be a good time to leave teaching and whether or not the inspiration of trying to make a difference and a have positive impact on my students is still fulfilling and satisfying. After much reflection about why I teach, I realized there are many reasons to leave teaching but I just as many to stay.  But most recently, I had an experience that validated every reason to stay and demonstrates how teaching can be a very fulfilling and satisfying profession.

     Since I started using Google Classroom 3 years ago in my 8^th grade math class, I give my students the opportunity to complete a “Teacher Report Card” on me every June. The google form allows students to rate me on a scale of 1 to 5 for specific skills, answer questions and add their own comments.  As painful and scary as it may be to allow my students to grade me, I value their input. I get very honest information on their perceptions of my instruction. I review the results every June and September to help improve instruction and classroom culture.

     This year, as in previous years, before I pushed the report card out to students through Google Classroom, I explained that completing the report card is confidential and I want them to be honest. I also shared previous statements students have made in the past, both positive and negative, just to let them know that it is okay to express their feelings and that I don’t take it personally. I just use the results to reflect on and improve my teaching. I assigned the teacher report card via Google forms this past week and collected their comments to a Google spreadsheet. 

     Students are very honest and not afraid to say how they feel. The form asked questions such as “What would you like Mrs. Peck to know?” and “How can the teacher improve the class?”, “Sometimes the teacher_____.”  Students responded very candidly with many comments and answers to the questions: “you bring donuts”,  “I like the spidey head candy container”,“is strict”, “class is fun,” “is not my favorite teacher, but is ok”, “is my favorite class”, and “should slow down”.

         All my students’ input is important to me and I consider all comments from the report card to help me improve as a teacher. But, after several years of administering the teacher report card, this year was the first time that a student’s statement made me extremely emotional and hit me at the core. When answering the questions ”Is there anything else you want to say to Mrs. Peck” a young man wrote: “even though I got a lot of MIR's throughout the class somehow your still my favorite teacher, respect goes a long way, you positively impacted my behavior through the end of the year, not only in your class but in everybody's because when I got in trouble in your class you looked disappointed and it didn’t feel right so I really worked on my behavior, you positively changed my life through not only middle school but through my entire career”.

       As a teacher I consider it my responsibility to make learning engaging, fun and meaningful so that my students grow academically.  But I believe it should be the ultimate goal of every teacher to help their students grow as individuals.  So when I read his statement, it brought me to tears. His statement encompasses all I could hope to accomplish as a teacher, making a difference and helping a child grow as an individual.  Teaching provides the opportunity to make a difference in many young lives. What a wonderful reason to stay.