With the new school year upon us, there's one supply you can give your child's teacher without a trip to the store: your genuine supply of support. Here's a cheer and a huge thank you to those who support teachers!
Teachers are a can-do, get it done, independent kind of tribe. The reel of our role continuously rolls in the back of our mind. If you don't believe that, watch a teacher not throw something away but rather contemplate how it could be used in the classroom or bring objects back from vacation for use in the classroom or vent to a spouse at night trying to figure out how to solve a classroom issue.
Although we are a self-reliant, self-sufficient, determined group, it's a blessing when others come and support our efforts in the classroom. Brave people help organize holiday parties. Parents send in snacks during testing week. Chaperones volunteer to attend field trips.
But there's also another type of person who holds up a teacher in a more personal manner. Those that seek out what's important to the teacher and find ways to come alongside to make those special things happen. Those who understand the pull of a teacher in so many directions and offer to alleviate the weight by handling a portion of the job. These people see the heart of teachers, and despite also seeing their limitations and weaknesses, encourage teachers to feel proud of their efforts. These people remind teachers of their accomplishments when they are weary.
These are the people that brought me my favorite drink for no special reason. These are the people that offered to tutor my kids that needed a little extra one on one time. These are the parents that picked up books I needed from the library. These are the people that entered my class to help groups of kids with special projects. These are the people that asked if I needed anything done and pitched in to put up a bulletin board in the hallway or read a test to a kid. These are the people that purchased the supplies when we didn't have enough volunteered. These are the people that came by my door and offered a smile and a "hi" and an understanding, "How are you doing?"
These are the people that made it okay to need help. These are the people that made it okay to not be perfect every day for every child. These are the people that gave grace and reminded me that I was a safe, good, kind, patient, creative, and wise person even when I desperately didn't feel like it. These are the people, who through simple acts, held up a teacher to continue to live a life worthy of her calling.
Teachers are a can-do, get it done, independent kind of tribe. The reel of our role continuously rolls in the back of our mind. If you don't believe that, watch a teacher not throw something away but rather contemplate how it could be used in the classroom or bring objects back from vacation for use in the classroom or vent to a spouse at night trying to figure out how to solve a classroom issue.
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| I saw this on vacation and so wanted it on our playground. |
Although we are a self-reliant, self-sufficient, determined group, it's a blessing when others come and support our efforts in the classroom. Brave people help organize holiday parties. Parents send in snacks during testing week. Chaperones volunteer to attend field trips.
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| We took a field trip to the University of Illinois women's basketball game. |
But there's also another type of person who holds up a teacher in a more personal manner. Those that seek out what's important to the teacher and find ways to come alongside to make those special things happen. Those who understand the pull of a teacher in so many directions and offer to alleviate the weight by handling a portion of the job. These people see the heart of teachers, and despite also seeing their limitations and weaknesses, encourage teachers to feel proud of their efforts. These people remind teachers of their accomplishments when they are weary.
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| A long biography project but so worth the time and effort. |
These are the people that brought me my favorite drink for no special reason. These are the people that offered to tutor my kids that needed a little extra one on one time. These are the parents that picked up books I needed from the library. These are the people that entered my class to help groups of kids with special projects. These are the people that asked if I needed anything done and pitched in to put up a bulletin board in the hallway or read a test to a kid. These are the people that purchased the supplies when we didn't have enough volunteered. These are the people that came by my door and offered a smile and a "hi" and an understanding, "How are you doing?"
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| Operation Christmas Child Project. Parents help kids fill their shoeboxes. |
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