Writing for this blog has forced me to analyze what I do and why I do it, so today, because I was curious, I asked my students to compile lists of the qualities they appreciate in teachers. They wrote, ranked and shared until they had assembled forty-five adjectives. It’s a tall order, this list, and one I strive to fill. Here are a few of my favorites -
patient
creative
loving
kind
fun
active
helpful
optimistic
even-tempered
humorous
But there are days. Headache days. Should-have-gone-to-bed-earlier days. Worried-about-family days. Days I make ineffective decisions. Days I am unprepared and self-centered. Days I expect perfection from 12-year-olds. I admit that on those days I embody few of the qualities my students treasure in a teacher. I had one today, one of those days. It started with a 9.5-on-the-Privette-scale headache and slid quickly into the pits by noon. Bedraggled is the best adjective to describe me after a twelve hour day.
But thank goodness for tomorrows. And thank goodness for gifts. Oh, it is the Christmas season, and my students will come bearing gifts. Coffee. Mugs. Candles. Chocolate. Nutella. Gift Cards. I am smiling now, thinking of how excited they are to give. But on the top of my wish list tonight? Grace. These students, I know them, and I believe that they will give and give abundantly. They will bestow upon this teacher forgiveness undeserved.
So I would like to add a forty-sixth adjective to the slate - blessed.
Kendal blogs at a spacious place
