Letters to Ms. Yee 2008-2009

Originally posted on Facebook [Notes] on June 27, 2009 

My gr. 5' students wrote letters to me at the end of the school year...here is a sampling...

Dear: Ms. Yee...

...You know, some of the facts you told me during the school year, I share it with people outside of school! The way you always added a little fun and humour to our learning really made the experience enjoyable for me. Even though you sometimes make long lectures, that shows that you really want us to learn. I remember when you also tell us stories of when you were little and about your family which a lot of us can relate to. I also sometimes look back on the time you played football at Camp Tapawingo. Wow Ms. Yee! You can sure play! A.S.

There was some funny things that happened in the walls of this class and I cant just say how nice you are to the class with all the words in the dictionary! ...and there will be one more thing I will remember for the rest of my life never settle for anything less than your best (is that how it goes?) I wish I can still be in your class. H.H.

This year was the best year in my whole life. I did have bad time but you always helped me out. For example, remember, when I got sad that my mom was in the hospital and you cheered me up. That's how you helped me out . I am very thankful for that.

Another thing I want to talk about is how caring you are Ms. Yee. You always care about everyone with a warm heart. For example, remember in camp I got a black eye, you would always ask me if I was okay with a very big warm smile...

The third thing that I want to talk about is how you are funny. How I think you are funny is how you change the topic so fast. For example, remember when we were learning about Media and H was picking her teeth and for the rest of the period you were teaching us how to FLOSS. That was so funny!!! (LOL) S.K.

Something I learned about you is you are helpful and one reason for that is in camp you helped me pack my clothes and by the way I really wanted to be in your cabin. Miss yee I will never forget everything you have done for me And of course I will never forget you. And I PROMISE I will visit you and your new grade five class. E.G.

...both of you are really funny what I really liked was at rock and chalk when you were shouting from the top that was really funny....R.I.

This was your first year as a grade 5 teacher and you handled us like a pro! You never gave up on us and always told us to do our best in everything. And here are some examples of your kindness. One example is, whenever we fail at something, you gave us a second chance. Also, you had a great sense of humour. I remember when you would fuse the humour with the work. Your jokes were always so funny! But when you were serious, you were serious. Even though the problems seemed small, they always made you angry. But in the end, you would always calm down and relax. I hope you continue to be a great teacher! R.B.

How Do You Know You're A Teacher?

How Do You Know You're A Teacher?

You know you're a teacher if...

1. You can hear 25 voices behind you and know exactly which one belongs to the child out of line.

2. You get a secret thrill out of laminating something.

3. You walk into a store and hear the words "It's Ms./Mr. _____" and know you have been spotted.

4. You have 25 people  that accidentally call you Mom/Dad at one time or another.

5. You can eat a multi-course meal in under twenty-five minutes.

6. You've trained yourself to go to the bathroom at two distinct times of the day: lunch and prep period.

7. You start saving other people's trash, because most likely, you can use that toliet paper tube or plastic butter tub for something in the classroom.

8. You believe the teachers' lounge should be equipped with a margarita machine.

9. You want to slap the next person who says, "Must be nice to work 7 to 3 and have summers off."

10. You believe that chocolate is a food group.

11. You can tell if it's a full moon without ever looking outside.

12. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if anyone says, "Boy, the kids sure are mellow today."

13. You feel the urge to talk to strange children and correct their behaviour when you are out in public.

14. You believe in aerial spraying of Ritalin.

15. You think caffeine should be available in intravenous form.

16. You spend more money on school stuff than you do on your own children.

17. You can't pass the school supply aisle without getting at least five items!

18. You ask your friends if the left hand turn he just made was a "good choice or a bad choice."

19. You find true beauty in a can full of perfectly sharpened pencils.

20. You are secretly addicted to hand sanitizer and finally,

21. You understand instantaneously why a child behaves a certain way after meeting his or her parents.

~Jeff Foxworthy, Comedian

[bolded: my personal fav!]

Coming Full Circle

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is a vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." Carl Jung

As a young child I didn't particularly fancy school and learning. The thought of studying and school work was just downright boring and insanely annoying. My vocabulary at such a young age only included one serious word: "play"! The allure of school came in the guise of athletics. "Sport" was everything to me. Throughout elementary school to high school I always had exceptional teachers who encouraged and nurtured both my interests and joys. They really paid attention and saw where my interests lay and allowed me to thrive and begin to "like school" from that starting point. School = sports
Two paramount moments that really affected my sense of identity at school and really helped me to find my niche and place were the following:

1) My elementary school Principal was Mr. Petrou and he was the most amazing and gentle human being who unequivocally supported my love for sport (I still remember his office having small carcass' laying around that he had collected! Ha!). He coached our school's Cosom floor hockey team. I was most smitten by his attitude towards my participation and encouragement despite being a girl. That reality didn't seem to derail his coaching decisions and ultimately, he allowed me to play between the pipes in the championship game for our division. As the back-up goalie, I knew that my chances to play were slim but at the last minute, the boy who was the regular goalie got suspended for fighting in the school yard and Mr. Petrou called on me to start in the finals! As a result of his actions, attitude & encouragement, it made me believe that despite gender, working hard and giving a dedicated 100% could help you to excel. Mr. Petrou made me a believer and it was his influence and example that provided that motivation, surge & encouragement to participate in sport right through to high school. Before I end, I must share one of the most amazing moments of my childhood...As I mentioned, I was in goal for the final game of the championship game when after a hotly contested match, we prevailed over our opponent to win the division pennant. After the game, we were lining up to shake hands when I lifted my goalie mask. Some of the player's jaws dropped to the ground as they noticed that I was a girl! I suppose the reaction was one of shock - shock that a girl could show up and actually play some hardcore hockey! Suckers, that was a terrific crowning moment of glory [I humbly kept my composure despite loving every moment of observing the player's reactions. I just kept it inside...a quiet monumental moment of triumph!]

2) My High School Guidance Counselor & Softball Coach
Through sport, I learned the fundamental values of commitment, dedication and a good work ethic. It is here that I gained a glimpse of what it meant by going that proverbial extra mile. Mary-Lou Parissi was not only a mentor, my guidance counselor, and coach but a genuine and caring individual who I greatly valued and appreciated. Due to school policy, in order for me to be able to remain on school teams I had to maintain a 70% academic average. This was the "motivation" that pushed me to work hard in my classes so that I could keep my grades up to avoid being kicked off any team. Whether that was right or not is besides the point because eventually, being on various school teams in high school particularly softball taught me to translate the attitude of hard work into my studies. So, naturally, because of my ongoing love for sport and dedication to specific teams, this attitude eventually translated into how I felt about school. I believe in the taste of success in that once you taste it, you surely want more!

These two prominent individuals had long lasting positive impressions in my life. Their actions and words echoed throughout the years in helping to imprint and shape the individual that I have become and the teacher I am now many years later.

As a result of such positive influences and currently being a in a position of great privilege as a teacher, I have become a huge advocate of providing ample opportunities for children to participate in sport and athletics. Whether it be a school team, extra-curricular intramural sports, or simply a gym class, outlets such as these can be
the most important vehicle in which life skills are planted, nurtured and grown. They can be sacred places of comfort, familiarity, release and extreme joy. Furthermore, it can be the place where self-esteem and self confidence blossom into beauty. And, these opportunities can be places where children realize that there is giftedness and opportunities for further skill development become a possible reality to pursue - a place where dreams are born, nurtured and given a chance.

Children find interests and places of belonging in school. Their "in" can be in any area that encompasses all that is indicative of school life including classes, clubs, and teams. My job is to help these students find success in whatever avenue they should decide to pursue in school but in order to do so, opportunities need to be provided to help them to discover what it is that captures their interest, joy and happiness.

There is no greater joy than being able to impart the same joy and awesome opportunities that I was able to benefit from as a young child to the students I interact with.

My journey in teaching is still quite young and this profession certainly humbles me each and everyday. Many roads have traversed to lead me to this, the 12th year of my teaching career. Many uphill battles, tears, laughs, and incredible moments. As I reflect on my current state as a teacher, one truth is foresure. I know this life...this career as an educator is without a doubt, a serious and demanding yet completely rewarding and fulfilling calling.

An Air of Entitlement

Kids these days come to school with an a rather putrid air of entitlement...
Entitlement
def.[noun]
the fact of having a right to something...

I believe firmly in a child’s right to education however, there are too many instances where children feel that their actions have no consequences when in fact, their actions can off-sprout so many other things. Accounting for one's actions is at an all time stand still (and when I get involved in asking culprits questions the first thing that they normally say is, "He..she...". Assuming ownership for one's choices & actions is next to non-existent. And, get this, some kids have the audacity to front a broken face when being spoken to about what they did!?!

Many students these days come to expect many things to be done for them and so they have this ingrained laziness demeanour. It’s almost as though they have lack of motivation, poor-like-the pits attitude & learned helplessness. There’s a lot of hand holding such as parents holding their kid’s backpack. Are you kidding me??? . Pick-up your own bag son/daughter! I suppose this is the dilemma and the crossroads that we need to face as we work collectively with the parents to reconcile habits that are instilled at home and than what goes on at school. This is generally a good point of contention during Parent/Teacher interviews!

A case in point
All extra-curricular activities including sports and clubs are strictly voluntary for teachers. Any planned field trips are a privilege for children & not a right...In this day and age, where teachers are stretched to the limit, maybe they don’t want to go the extra mile to call around organizing trips, transportation, collecting money and fill out crazy permission forms. This would especially true if kids weren’t safe and especially if they didn’t deserve it. So, I believe that other types of consequences need to be explored before telling a child that he/she will miss an extra-curriculuar activity due to misbehaviour(s). Being a child who lived, dreamt & ate extra-curricular house league sports, I thrived at school primarily for those opportunities. I was smart though. I kept myself out of trouble & got my homework done because I knew that the consequences that I would suffer would include having those privileges taken away because I knew that I was NOT entitled to those opportunities that teachers provided in their spare time.

Many young people often walk around feeling like the world owes them a big deal when they have yet to contribute anything meaningful to society. They walk around behaving without scruples and in many cases, without any moral values or respect for others. You may be saying, that’s very unfair to say Sophia!. However, I would argue that I’m generalizing in the sense that I speak from my experience and of what I see around me, on public transportation, bus stations, out in public space and in the schools.

There seems to be a lack of responsibility for one’s actions and a confusion about the consequences & ramifications if one chooses certain negative behaviours and paths...So, this is where I'm drawn back to...a student or child's sense of entitlement...they are entitled to a right to education, to be safe, to feel validated as a learner, etc. however, they need to earn and deserve privileges such as extra-curricular clubs, activities & trips. I believe that as you show that you can handle and be trusted with the choices you have been given, then more doors of opportunity, freedom & choice will be rewarded to you.

Jack-of-Trades
Here's a little flavour of what I mean...
Teacher's don't only teach...[rolling my eyes & giggling]...that's WHAT we're supposed to do & with all those ministry curriculum learning expectations to cover! Teachers need to be a:

•Psychologist (b/c we can't prescribe drugs!)
[calm the deeply emotional individuals & walk/talk them through problem solving situations and working out their feelings ~ yeah, we talk about feelings...all that good stuff ] AND we don't have a sofa + pillow. It's called, "Sit down on the carpet!"

• Referee
[break-up fights (whether verbal, physical or both)]

• Councillor
[address & deal w/ issues of bullying]

• Doctor
[when a child gets a boo boo, they require ice, a band-aid; Btw, I don't do lice, I leave that up to the "office experts" (ha ha)

• Coach
[Encourage students to achieve their great potential]

• Clown
[What's teaching without comic relief?]

• Storyteller
[Share my own life experiences w/ my students]

• Accountant
[Count trip money, deal w/ school invoices, purchases, etc.]

• Educator
[Includes all the above while helping students discover their natural abilities/talents while challenging them to greatness!]

Why did I just insert a "Jack-of-all-trades" flavour above? It's because we've just completed 4 months of school and I'm still working on behaviour while dealing w/ many of the above issues...oh yeah, throw in the fact that I also teach curriculum material such as the Government of Canada in gr. 5 Social Studies!
Inherent in my philosophy of education as a teacher is establishing good & sound behaviour management along with developing a solid rapport with the students in my classroom. If I don't have this firmly established, I believe I cannot successfully teach. That is why although it has been already 4 tough & challenging months, I'm still hammering routines & expectations and reminding (ad nauseam & painstakingly) the children about making positive choices and the expectations that I have of them WHILE demanding nothing but their best in ALL in all that they do.

To be continued..