Yet another great teacher thread

[hmp2z]

Someone wrote to the rant page that there isn't a "great teacher" thread. Why not? So this is it If you're a teacher, give yourself a pat on the back - what did you do today that made you great? If your child's teacher did something good, let us know!

So here's my pat on my own back:

Yesterday, I comforted a 12 year old girl whose best friend had committed suicide b/c her stepfather repeatedly raped her. Before I became a teacher, I thought it mostly entailed delivering my content knowledge to the children. Ha!

Today, one of my students whose butt I had to kick all last year to get her to succeed stopped by to see me on her way to the Science Club meeting! (I was thrilled that she had joined the Science Club this year, and that she comes by to see me after school still - something must have sunk in).

Today my students presented their WW2 research Powerpoint presentations on a SmartBoard that I was only able to borrow by promising my first born son to the technology coordinator. I LOVED seeing them use the SmartBoard, and their little faces just glowed. They thought they were big shots, watching their presentations on the big screen So I guess it's worth having to part with the firstborn...

And a big cheer for a teacher who come to meet with us after school on her daughter's behalf. She was calm and rational, and we had a wonderful conference and all left feeling great and revved up to help her daughter succeed. If only all parent meetings could be that way!

How about you all?
Cheers!
Heather W

 

[Marseeya]

My DD's teachers from kindergarten and up have been fantastic. She's in the fourth grade now, and she's the sweetest, most well-behaved kid EVER, but she really struggles academically. Her reading skills are so weak. We've had her tested for LD, but as of now it just seems that her IQ is low and there's not enough of a discrepancy for her to qualify for services. Well, her teachers have been FANTASTIC! They do whatever they can to help her out by reading questions to her, giving her extra time, and helping her with her organizational skills.

She gets an IEP for speech/language support and they were even good enough to include some accomodations for her that aren't related to speech.

This year's teacher has called me numerous times to keep me up to date, and I can tell that she really, truly cares.

Go teachers, Go teachers, Go teachers!

 

[Teacher03]

I'll join! First I would like to give my daughter's theater/speech and debate teacher a pat on the back. This is only her second year of teaching, and she has inspired my daughter to always do her best.

I will give myself a pat on the back. One of my kid's parents called and told me their son felt like a math genius since he has been in my class. That made my day!


Thank you to all you teachers who continue to do a great job, each and every day. Thank you to all of you who have inspired my children to be better students and all of you who have inspired me to be a better teacher.

 

[FreshTressa]

Thank you Mr. Daly!!

My son's 2nd grade teacher is AWESOME.....So were his first grade and kindergarten teachers.

Also to Dan the Man, his speech teacher.

They work hard and are underpaid and are heroes!

 

[BelleMcNally]

I wondered how long it would take for this thread to show up!

I've had AMAZING teachers over the years; many of whom are attending my wedding this May. My high-school teachers, especially, were incredible. It's because of them that I've always been drawn to teaching and am going back for my graduate degree next year!

So: Ms. Laughlin, Ms. Ridenour, Mr. Stone, Mr. Butler, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Zodhiates--if you're reading this--I'm thankful for everything you gave to me every day.

Also, my mother is the most wonderful kindergarten teacher I've ever seen; wherever we go (airport, restaurants, WDW) children are just drawn to her. It makes me so proud

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

My DD's have great teachers this year -- Beth is in K and she has the same teacher her older sister had last year .... and she is wonderful -- kind, caring, and is always sparking Beth's imagination.

Tori's classroom teachers are very good - I wish I knew them a little better but in praise of her drama teacher -- she goes out of her way not only to make drama wonderful for all the children assessing their strengths and helping them overcome their short comings ... but she works hard for the entire school with fundraising, PTA, community outreach programs -- she rocks.

And just so the pre-school teachers don't get left out -- Beth loved her pre-school teacher last year and recently sent her a note telling her through short words and lost of drawings how much she loved and missed her. The teacher took the time to call her and tell her that she loved Beth and missed her too - and hoped she was having a wonderful time in kindergarten.

Thank you to all those great teachers out there!!

 

[maleficent1959]

I can't say enough nice things about my DSs teacher. She does so many things for him that I think are beyond the call of duty. She checked out library books for him every day for the first month because kindergarteners couldn't do it yet. When I couldn't go to his Art Boosters meeting after school she took him. When he read 60 books (in two weeks and on his own) in the Great Reading Race she made sure that the school recognized his achievement -- resulting in an awards ceremony that was broadcast on the school news. She invites his little brother to all of the classroom parties and even sent said little brother home a book for Christmas. She has created his own sort of curriculum for the times when the class is learning something he already knows, or has arranged for him to attend learning groups in the higher grades.

When he entered kindergarten this fall he was so painfully shy (even after 2 years of preschool) that he didn't speak to any of the children, or her, for over three weeks. I was worried about him just doing okay, but because of her work with him now he is thriving. He's a confident young man who LOVES to go to school.

The list just goes on and on for me. I have told her how lucky we feel we are to have her, but you can bet she's going to get a long letter and a BIG thank you at the end of the year.

 

[cats7494]

We have been truly blessed with wonderful teachers for my dd11!
I am amazed at how much they truly care for each child! They push the students but are very willing to help if the child needs assistance or has questions. DDis in a very good district and we are very thankful!

When we had a housefire a couple of years ago - her 4th grade teacher was so amazing! She comforted dd and called me to let me know how she was doing in school, etc...was very wonderful and caring.

In middle school - her teachers have continued to be very good.
There are many, many, many wonderful teachers out there. I know there are some nightmarish ones (I had some doozies when I was a kid!)

So, as a parent - thank you to all the teachers who do love their students, do support them, and teach them! Thank you!

 

[Sparx]

I'll join. This happened last week or the week before, but one of my best friends lost his grandmother (she was very old, and they were very close. he doesn't like his mother much) and our history teacher sent him a very nice email about it, and they were talkign about it for a day or so. I thought that that was going above and beyond.

This guy is an amazing teacher though, everyone loves him.

 

[momo3hods]

My DD's kindergarten teacher did a great job with their performance for Catholic Schools Week. They all looked so adorable up on stage singing their hearts out.