Being the Thankful Teacher

It seems like the perfect time of year to be a “Thankful Teacher.” I always loved teaching (well most of the time). If you’ve read my “About Me” you know that I’m a retired teacher and administrator (mostly as a principal) and now I work at a local Community College as a Grant Director.

So, basically, my whole career has been working in the education world.
And most of those years were as a classroom teacher. So what better thing to do than to “put on my teacher hat” and make a list of things teachers can be thankful for.

I’ve written a couple of other articles similar to this topic that you might find interesting. Here are the links:

Why Did You Become a Teacher? What’s Your WHY?

Be a “Compass” for Your Students!

The Thankful Teacher

So I have three main categories of things I, as a teacher, am thankful for; the students, teacher friends, and awesome moments in the teaching world.

The Students

Aren’t students the best!! If you can’t sit back and say that with conviction, than perhaps you need to reconsider your career. Whether you teach the most small (preschool) or elementary, middle school or high school, you need to have a passion for that age group of students.

Here’s a side note, if you are beginning to get burned out with the group you have, consider changing to another age group. So a first grade teacher can switch up to fifth or sixth. Or a high school teacher can move down to seventh grade to see if this brings back the passion.

Here’s a quick list of the students I love:

the bright kids
the funny kids
the timid kids
the challenged kids
the “normal” kids
the messy kids
the tidy kids
the shy kids
the inquisitive kids
the active kids
the angry kids
the artistic kids
the talented kids
the athletic kids
the chatty kids

I’m sure there are more, but isn’t this a great list. I hope as you were reading through it that certain students came to mind that have warmed your heart. And that you are thankful for each and every one of them.

Thankful Teacher – for my Teacher Friends

I honestly think teachers couldn’t survive without all their teacher friends throughout the years. I know I couldn’t have. Your teacher friends are the ONLY ONES who actually, completely “GET” what you are going through.

Be thankful for your Teacher Friends, they are often helpful in many ways, coming through when you need them the most. One of the greatest things that your teacher friends can offer is their “ear” when you need to vent. After all, who better than them to understand what you are going through.

And on the flip side you need to also be that helpful teacher friend too.

The Teacher Moments

Have you had some “teacher moments” this year? This year (2023) is a very unusual year, and your students need you more than ever this year.

These “teacher moments” that I’m referring to are the small little things that go right – that remind you why you chose to be a teacher in the first place. Things like:

having a successful lesson
seeing students be nice to one another
the “lightbulb” moments
the extra “fun” things you bring to your students
celebrating holidays with the kids
having new beginnings
the quiet moment before class begins
the quiet moment after dismissal when you reflect on the day
when a prior student returns to say “hello”
being told you are the favorite teacher
a nice note from a parent (or a kind word)
receiving praise from the principal

A little about new beginnings

An awesome thing to be thankful for is the new beginning each year. Every August there is an excitement centered on the possibilities of the new year with your new group of students. There are only a few other careers that have this “new beginnings” feature to the profession/job (aren’t we lucky?).

And I used to also feel a new rebirth each January when I returned from my (much needed) Winter Break. I was ready for new adventures with my students, new successful lessons, more “lightbulb” moments.

My wish for you is that you find MANY THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN YOUR CAREER.

Until Next Time,