Feeling "appreciated"!

It's teacher appreciation week.

::Pause for a reaction::

That's right.  The week where high school teachers are often forgotten about.  No mothers eager to bring in baked goods or gift cards to Panera or any cute Pinterest-y gift ideas they saw.  Kids not even realizing it's teacher appreciation week.

In fact, one of my students went as far as saying, "There's a day to celebrate that?"

Yup, there is.

But, whether or not I get any verbal recognition this week or chocolate chip pancakes with homemade whipped cream, I relish in the small victories over the past 7 years that have made me feel appreciated.

I mean, what other job could you take a group of eager to learn Spanish 3 students to Mexican town for lunch to celebrate Day of the Dead?

Or get to make a video to post on youtube of 25 students singing a song about direct object pronouns in Spanish to the tune of "If you're happy and you know it?"

Or have students stay after school just to tell you about their day or their latest crush or how much they love your class and wish they could have your class all day long?

Just today I had a senior tell me, "That was the best joke you've said all year.  That made my day."  I guess quoting, "Ain't nobody got time fo that" was all it took.

Seeing former students while out shopping at random places like Marshall's or Target always bring a smile to my face.  Even if I can't remember their name, they remember me.

I know it's said all the time, we don't do this for the money.  I can assure you, we don't.

For me, I do this job for those times when a student suddenly understands, in May, what it means when you tell them to "conjugate a verb", despite having explained that to them for the past 7 months.

It's for getting them to sing crazy songs like their ABC's, Head shoulders knees and toes, and even a days of the week song to the Adams Family theme song in Spanish.  Nobody's too cool for that!

It's for hearing them command each other to do things in Spanish and seeing them actually act out what they're being told to do after 2 years of learning the language.

It's for those nice kids that finally ask me what I did over my break after they've all shared.

Or the kids who you've watched as freshmen progress to seniors as their class sponsor.

Or for that moment when you are asked to be their guest at the Senior Honors Dinner at a gorgeous country club and the student gives a speech about how you were her favorite teacher.

Oh, how sappy.  But, it's true.  I really don't think there's too many jobs out there where you meet as many interesting, challenging, wonderful, and frustrating people in one year.  And then start all over again next year.

No two days are alike.  I never know what my day will turn out like at 7:30am when I'm walking into the building.

These kids make me laugh.  They've made me cry.  They disrespect me.  They come back and apologize and turn out to be one of those kids that still comes back to visit you.  They push you to the edge.  They bring you right back with an "A" on a quiz or a hug.

Sure, it's quite possibly the most difficult thing I've done aside from child birth.  And it's no bed of roses on most days.  But, there's something about the excitement in finding new posters to hang in your room.

And the excitement of a new bulletin board you made for your room that NONE of the kids care about.  Hey, I tried?!

And that feeling come August when the mere thought of freshly sharpened pencils, back to school shopping, and decorating your classroom has you all giddy.

I may hate what's going on with education in Michigan with a passion.  I may never understand how the people making the decisions are the ones with no background whatsoever in public education.  I definitely loathe the fact I haven't had a pay raise in 3 years.

And yet I keep coming back for more.

There's something about this job.

But, for those days when I have the urge to pack up all my belongings and hand in my two-week notice, I continue to do my job because, at the very least, I work with an amazing group of people and am lucky to have developed so many friendships over the years.

Happy teacher appreciation week to all my fellow teacher friends!

Now where's my damn chocolate chip pancakes??