Shout out to all the teachers...

School is fun and exciting and all that jazz. But you know what... It's also a little exhausting :)

So I thought a few shout outs were in order...

To all the teachers who...

...gave up part of their summer break to attend workshops, conferences, and meetings all so they could find ways to better teach their students.

...spent their own money on paper and pencils and posters and games and all sorts of things most people have no clue about all so their students would have a fun and encouraging learning environment.

…listen to parents complain about the price of supplies and silently cringe because they have no clue how much their child’s teacher spent on supplies.

...wake up earlier and and go to bed later than should be allowed all so they can finish work they weren't able to finish during school hours.

...spend their lunch time opening milk cartons and ketchup packets or feeding those who can't feed themselves and then hurrying to scarf down their own lunch so fast they barely taste it (if they’re even able to eat at all, that is).

...spend time filling out, passing out, copying, and signing form after form, making sure all the i’s are dotted and all the t’s are crossed just so.

…sacrifice time with family and friends in order to grade papers, write lesson plans, decorate classrooms, attend trainings, all so their students have what they need to succeed.

…fill their desk drawers with food and socks and belts and other such
necessities for students who unfortunately may not have those readily available at home.

…look past the behavior problems a child exhibits and dig deep enough to see what that child has faced in the past that would cause such problems.

…spend hours and hours dealing with laminators and copy machines and
risographs and poster printers and Smart Boards and other such technology that often seems to break down on the same day, all so their students have what they need in their classroom.

…learn the basic greetings in more languages than you can count just so they can offer a familiar voice to a struggling learner on the first day in a unknown, and therefore scary, environment.

…spend hours and hours testing, prepping, collecting data, reading file after file, planning, and writing IEPs and then sitting in meeting after meeting, all so that their students will receive the
absolute best possible education they can get.

…sit in meeting after meeting, taking notes after notes, all so they can better educate themselves on how to best meet the needs of their students.

…act as counselor, nurse, mediator, and sometimes even mom.

…feel that teaching is more than just a job. It’s a passion, a calling, a way of life.

So here’s a big shout out to all of us teachers out there who have done the things above (and much much more). You’re not alone. When you’re feeling down or discouraged, remember somebody is noticing what you’re doing. They see the good you’re bringing to that classroom. They see the hours you’re putting in. They see the effort you’re
giving.

They see the awesomeness that is...

Y  O  U.