Perhaps some of you know the Paul
McCartney song about a father’s wishes for his son. It often reminds me of the
wishes we have for Harney County students. We have teachers who are immensely
influential and important in the lives of their students. You are nearly as
important to your students as are their own fathers and mothers. Each day, you
reach out your hand to our students to help them and to “make things clear.”
Whether you are teaching a lesson about fractions, rhyme scheme, history, or
life in general, the hand you reach out to your students each day will be
remembered long after it is extended. Many of you have probably already heard
of or read the story below, and I know it’s just a little bit sappy, but I
wanted to share it as an apt expression of thanks for all that you, as
teachers, do to help our students.
Thanksgiving
Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment—to draw a
picture of something for which they were thankful. Most of the class might be
considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the
holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the
teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her student's art. And they
were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher's
true child of misery, frail and unhappy. As other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could
only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind
those sad eyes. Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of
something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand. Nothing else. Just an
empty hand.
His
abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be?
One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys.
Another suggested a police officer, because the police protect and care for
people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us. And so
the discussion went—until the teacher almost forgot the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to other assignments, she paused at Douglas ' desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it
was. The little boy looked away and murmured, "It's yours, teacher."
She
recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked with him here or there, as
she had the other students. How often had she said, "Take my hand, Douglas , we'll go outside." Or, "Let me show
you how to hold your pencil." Or, "Let's do this together." Douglas was most thankful for his teacher's hand.
Brushing aside a tear, she went on with her work.
Teachers, thank you for reaching out
your hand each day to our kids. While we have many students from affluent
families with loving mothers and fathers, we also have our share of
“Douglases.” Your hand means a great deal to both. Often, when I visit your
classrooms, I witness the power of your hands, as students soak in your wisdom,
your warmth, and your passion. Many of our students express their appreciation
immediately through their engagement, their quality work, and by returning your
smiles with their own. Others are less obviously responding to the hand you
tirelessly extend; yet they, too, are storing away these moments and will
remember you and your steady hand long after they have left us. Sometimes we
use our hands to applaud our students for an outstanding effort in the
classroom or in an extracurricular activity. We also use our hands to greet our
students each day, as we shake theirs, and wish them a happy day. Give
yourselves a “hand” for work well done each and every day.
Post edited from original post by Jeff Zoul. thanks Jeff!
Articles you may enjoy:
Videos to Check out:
Do the Right Thing (2 min)
Becoming a good writer with Lucy Calkins (8 min)
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Calendar of Events:
SBAC opt-out form available from ODE--Nov. 9
Teach Like a Pirate--Nov 13
CTE Revitalization Grant Winners announced--Nov. 16
E-RATE TRAINING @ Harney ESD--Nov 20 9AM-4pm
Writing Scoring--Dec 11
Teacher Voice Workshop--Jan. 8
Deadline to distribute opt-out form--Jan. 9
Deadline to distribute Report Cards to Parents--Jan 15
Teacher Voice Workshop--Feb 12
Math Talk Workshop--April 15-16
Katrina Ayres--Classroom Practices--May 6
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