Jen for so many years now you have been such a great champion of the kids – it comes as no surprise to me that you just received the comments below from kids at opposite ends of the spectrum. I know we don’t do a Teacher of the Month thing like we used to (I should bring that back!) but certainly, if anyone is, you are the PLC Teacher of the Year this year. I am nervous to think that you won’t be in a classroom next year but at the same time how much can one take? This year for you, more than any I can remember going way back and that is a long time, has been a true watershed. You did something great this year and those reading your comments since the (most difficult of all) fall have been following a kind of drama that beats any adventure movie. Good for you jen and good for the kids who wrote this, to show that, even if the bosses don’t get you, they do. I am certain that as you wind up your year this week there is not one PLC member who isn’t clapping loudly for you that not only did you finish the year but you did so in style. Great job!
Here is your real end of year conference topic – a real victory:
…yesterday on my last day of school, kids whom I’d taught in the fall and also kids who “signed up for Spanish next year” whom I have not taught yet, were stopping by my room to say thank you / adios / I hope you get to come back next year. One girl (Spanish 1, fall semester) was so excited to share with her newbie friend “how awesome this class is.” Here is what she said: “The best part is that there is no pressure. I feel so much pressure in all my other classes, and then I come here and I can relax. And I learn so much Spanish that way because it’s chill and I’m not stressed and it just seeps in!” BTW…this is one of the top 5 students in the 9th grade class….
…a totally different student (kid with an IEP) clearly understands what I say to him in Spanish, just off the cuff banter about whether he went fishing, what he caught, weekend stuff, baseball questions (real questions bc I don’t know baseball but he does) etc. He does not usually respond in Spanish. He’s a dude and he likes to grunt or just nod, etc. But he’s IN the conversation and so I know he understands. So yes. We can do this without numbers and by honoring what they CAN do!…