TODAY WAS A DAY THAT CONFIRMED THE IMPACT I AM MAKING AS A TEACHER FOR FUTURE TEACHERS. TODAY WAS A DAY THAT I CAN REFLECT AND GAIN STRENGTH ON FOREVER.
Let me explain how April 20, 2018 was a day that I will forever mark. Today we also changed the schedule for National Walkout Day to protest Gun Violence. Student Council brought it to me a month ago that they wanted to participate. We made a plan and they decided an open dialogue about gun violence would be a good use of the time. They wrote questions and lead the discussion with the 30 or so (out of 46) that participated. All students listened and opened up about their thoughts and feelings on the issues. Myself and a coworker also contributed and before long kids were asking questions to each other about things they felt and offer advice and suggestions of how to ensure we make CTEC a safe space. At the end I thanked them and they all clapped for each other's candidness and maturity. I got emotional right near the end and just offered our willingness to continue to hear their concerns.
Strange thing happened as we exited the building and entered the building at UNC-Charlotte. I caught a glimpse of a guy etching names on the monument. I realized a previous coworker Patti Norris was supposed to be on there soon after passing with a long battle with cancer a year prior. Sure enough her name was being put in as I was there. I sent it to previous coworkers at Central Cabarrus in hopes that they would see the impact they made in her memory. They sent it out to the school and made sure it brought some grieving teachers joy. I explained to some of my students who she was and why I was stopping to take a picture and they really empathized with the gravity of it.
In third period a college professor and two future math teachers came to watch me carry out an amazing lesson that they wrote. I got to put into action an inquiry based technology lesson after several levels of feedback from myself and the professor. I plan on writing an entire blog post later on this experience so look for more details about that. I don't want to give away too many details yet.
As I mentioned our schedule was altered. The other reason why is because we generally take kids to lunch on campus and get them outside to play for part of their PE fitness logs. At lunch I talked to three boys about their families, their life, and their plans to become teachers. It was amazing just connecting and talking to them. For PE time I usually play soccer with a specific group of kids, but today we played capture the flag with the few cones I have. It was spectacular fun. Running around and playing with these kids. All the teachers played this time and more of the students joined in than ever before.
After exhausting myself I came home to a wonderful message on remind: "I wanted to send you the pictures because you look so beautiful in them sooo here you go I hope they send !!" (You know this is a real text because of the run on sentence and lack of punctuation.) Then attached was a picture of me with five of our kids on the steps of the Union. My heart melted and I thanked the student.
The last random thing I saw that made me realize the fun I bring and impact I have was a picture and video in my time hop from my Calculus class two years ago. I took them to Calculus the Musical after school one day (on UNCC's campus of course!) and we had the best time. There is a hilarious video when EJ goes on stage with the performers and I laugh every time I watch it. I took a picture of the kids after the show as well. I remember the names and personalities and great people they are as well as the great people they will grow into.
The last thing I want to say is that today was in no way perfect. I had to scold students for stealing out of lunches and forced them to replace items out of their own money. I had to punish a student for forging signatures on progress reports by having her call home. I had to tell two boys over and over not to slide down rails and one almost severely hurt himself. But these are still wins in character and safety. And although they were exhausting efforts and negative in nature, they don't take away from the whole purpose of the day.
The maturity, the empathy, the care, the effort, the heart of these kids is working hard on me today. The joy of teaching is beaming out of me with every moment. My passion is ignited by these kids.
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