It’s been a year! We read banned books, celebrated World Teachers’ Day, and hosted Underground Spirits Week. The biggest concern is what will happen to the Ministry of Education after the election. And what teachers need to improve their teaching has never been far from our minds.
We asked teachers in our We Are Teachers helpline group on Facebook what they were grateful for and accomplished this year. Hearing that story cheered me up. The teachers are the best!
First, teachers found what they liked where they were.
“I changed grades after being in the same grade for eight years.”
“I’ve been in the loop with my classmates since last year, and I’m really proud of the relationships and community we’ve built.” —Kelly B.
“We are grateful to the administrators who supported our staff by providing donuts, birthday cards and extra time during the day.”
—TAS
Teachers worked hard for their students and achieved great victories.
“I love the feedback from kids when they ask about an activity they completed a while ago.”
“So I think this lesson sparked interest, curiosity, and a desire to learn.” —Joyce T.
“I actively managed my students’ use of AI to preserve their dignity and elicit real work.”
—Ann EA
“I was frustrated with the performance of some of my students and was thinking, ‘What more can I do?'”
“Then we looked at their grades and the last two report card cycles and they were all making progress, some more than others, but they were all moving in the right direction, upwards. ” —Carol T.
Teachers proved how persistent they are.
“I maintained a 4.0 in my PhD program while teaching full time and raising my children.” —Michi L.
Some teachers finished one experience and moved on to the next.
“I decided to quit my job and open my own microschool!”
— Stacey FS
“I left a school environment that damaged my mental health.”
“I changed districts and grades and am much happier now. It’s hard to start over, but I did it anyway and I’m proud of myself.” —Liz S.
Teachers shared what they learned with others.
“Presented at a national education conference.”
“The interest was so high that I had to add another session on my topic. It felt great!” —Michi L.
We already knew it: teachers are amazing! Cheers to 2024 and the new year ahead.
