So She Reads

We Need You, Teachers

We need you, teachers.


Who else is going to teach our children the three Rs with such enthusiasm? Certainly not the moms! We tried that during c***d, and no one wants to go back. Plus, you all do such a great work!


It’s summertime and you may not feel like being bothered with saying yes to a new school. But, we need you! Say yes and say it with confidence that you are doing the right thing and know that we will help you through the hard times.


We need you to be dedicated. Somedays it takes long hours. Checking can be monotonous and boring. For sure when it’s obvious that someone didn’t catch on to the concept. I well remember one little third grader I had. She could not multiply double digits. I helped her with every problem for what seemed like weeks. One day, she didn’t need me. She raised her hand and said, “I got it!” She proudly brought her book to me and wanted me to check her problems then and there. I did. My mental red pen at the ready. I wanted to wait and check her book after school so I wouldn’t have to disapoint her with all the checkmarks. I seriously doubted she had gotten them right. Lo, and behold! A miracle had happened in my classroom. Every problem was right and from that day on I was just a cheerleader. Those miracles are there for you, too. Keep your eyes open and you will find them.


Being dedicated also means repeating yourself. A lot. There was one seventh grade boy that had no idea where to start with his math. Every morning I would say the same thing. ‘Find a simple problem and do it. Then one is done.’ Every day he dutifully listened to me and his math eventually got done. And sometimes it’s ok to give the one that has trouble a break. One student I had worked SO VERY hard. He worked much harder than anyone else in my classroom. Almost every day I walked past his desk and crossed off a few problems in his math book. He understood the concept; he didn’t need to work seven long division problems. When we checked in class, I just matter of factly told the class that problems marked off in red didn’t need to be checked wrong in his book. Everyone seemed to accept it and the hard worker got his math done in better time!


We need you to be fair and kind. It is totally understandable that some of your students will be more compatible with your personality. But the greatest breakthroughs will come for you and and your students when you can
treat them all with respect and kindness. Don’t feel guilty for getting along better with some, but do be impartial as much as you can. You will never be sorry for taking the extra time to help the struggling child. You may not think twice about it but chances are good they will remember your kindness for life. (But a little righteous indignation isn’t all wrong either, occaisionally.)


We need you to be good sports. Play the games. Get hot and sweaty. Learn new rules. Every place is bound to have slightly different rules than you grew up with. That’s OK. Showing the students that you can graciously give in is not going to make them lose respect for you. Other times it is OK to have them play your rules. Give and take is what it is all about. Be willing to take the blame sometimes when things aren’t going right.


I well remember one winter. Hockey is a hot-tempered game and playing it longer only makes it worse. We were getting toward the end of hockey season and tempers were flaring. Including mine. I wondered what to tell my class to make them cool it. I was so tired of hockey and all the gear and attitudes that went with it. One evening,
crystal clear and sharp, the answer came to me. The problem was the teacher. I was losing my cool which gave the children full license to lose theirs, also. If the teacher didn’t have to remain calm, why did they? The next morning we had a huddle before hockey. I told them I had been angry and not doing my part to keep recess fun. They all grinned self consciously and went to get their skates on. I am sure they already knew I was part of the problem. There was one boy especially that year that was hot-headed. He had to sit off numerous times for rough playing. I can clearly see the recess where he was fixing to get angry. I saw it start. I saw him realize it. I saw him drop his hand with the stick in it. I saw him walk away from the fight. I saw that he had changed. When they asked in church what I thought of his conversion experience, I had absolutely no doubt. And who is to say but that a teacher
that was willing to first of all admit her wrong wasn’t the turning point for him?

We need you in our youth groups. It is good for us to have new blood, new ideas, different perspectives. You bring new life to ball games and Sunday school. Our youth girls need you. They need girls they can look up to and make friends with. They need you to take them back home with you some weekend, introducing them to
new people and places and foods. Our youth boys need you. You bring a spark the home girls don’t always have. Don’t get me wrong. There is absolutely nothing wrong with ‘the girl next door’, but sometimes they want to branch out a bit.


We need you to be old-fashioned. School doesn’t need to be only fun. Treats aren’t any fun anymore if they get them every day or every week. Make a treat something for them to look forward to. Don’t compare yourself to your co-teacher. Years ago I was musing on our method of school and wondering why it seems to be working. (I dreamed for years of going to college, so this little ‘one room school’ business just seemed too old-fashioned for me.) The spirit told me it works because every teacher has different strengths. You are filling a place in your classroom right now that no one else can fill. If the teacher last year was a little shy on one subject, chances are good that very subject is your strong point!

We need you to be disciplinarians. Yes, disciplinarians. If you think you will make a good school year without having simple classroom rules and sticking to them, go back to the drawing board. It takes self discipline first of all, then you can carry that over into your classroom and make a great year for all of your students. Your frustration will be less, the children will learn more and you will be greatly blessed in the process. Find out what the school board wants for all school rules. If they have no direction for you, makes some with your fellow teachers. That way you are all helping to keep the entire school in check. Make some simple guidelines to follow in your classroom and stick to them! Three rules that you stick to is better than trying out 15 that no one can remember and you don’t enforce. Discipline does not need to be difficult or mean. It is your best friend in the classroom.


Put your heart into it and be you.


We aren’t trying to raise straight A students that can have every answer. What we are aiming for is a basic education that will serve them well while living a simple life. Teach them to learn to learn. Be there to listen if they want to talk. Set an example that they will want to follow. Look for miracles and be quick to point them out.


So, the contract? Pray about it. Try not to think about it too much. The answer will come.


Follow where your heart leads you, but please, say yes!

-Eva

You may also be interested in Five Reasons to Read Middle Grade Books as an Adult.

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37 responses to “We Need You, Teachers”

    • It is a huge undertaking and not every one can handle the pressure, but we have dozens of young gals acing it!
      I just read through the article again trying to decide what part could be left out as the ‘too much’. What parts would you say are too much, Audrey?

      Reply

  5. Amen and amen! I love this article! I’m sad that so many of the youth girls today don’t want to teach. It’s the best job I ever had! All jobs have their demands and can be “too much” but I can’t think of any other job that offers as many rewards as teaching does! But now that I’m not doing it, all I can remember is the good times! 😅

    Reply

  6. Amen!! Teaching is so rewarding, & it’s so much fun to learn to know a new congregation and youth group! I have lasting friendships made from teaching away from home!

    Reply

      • Ask them questions about school and show interest. Snacks or food or gifts are fine, but like someone (Twain?) said, “I can go a month on a good compliment.” If your child says anything remotely nice about school or their teacher, let the teacher know.

      • If your child struggles in any area ask the teacher what you can do at home to help. We must be willing to do our part, if we expect the teacher to do all the extra studying and tutoring we are at fault if our child fails. One school board member and several fellow teachers told me that there is no way for the teacher to do it all. This may take hours of our busy evenings each week, but the support inspires a teacher to not give up.

  9. The year I taught school was the Best year of my youth life!!! I only wish I could’ve taught several more years before marriage!
    Love this article!

    Reply

  10. I am a teacher. And I love it. Yes, it is a huge responsibility. So here’s to you others- parents, board, grandparents, siblings, youth- please support us. Pray for us every day. We need it. We will make mistakes. Don’t discuss those mistakes at the supper table. Ask us about them privately. You may not agree with how we punished your child; support us anyway.
    Thank you. And God bless our schools.

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  12. Awesome writing, Eva!! Teaching is still in my heart too! It is a big responsibility but if God has asked you to do it you CAN!! He WILL give the wisdom needed. Even if you have to be a counselor, nurse, Mom, preacher, or coach!! Courage to all!!

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  13. I LOVE our schools 🏫 ❤️!!! I taught for 12 years. I loved the energy and enthusiasm of the younger students! I mostly taught the upper grades. I loved working with this age group. Yes, it can be challenging, but it’s also the most rewarding 🥰!!!

    If you’re asked to teach school, pray about it. If it feels right, then go confidentially knowing that’s what God wants you to do. Pray. for courage and strength every day🙏🏼 God will provide that in so many different ways!! Just be yourself , and the rest will fall into place 😍! Remember it’s not your work, but it’s Gods work. I remember when it came to me that I was only a tool placed in God’s hand. There were so many times that I didn’t know what to do or say. God faithfully provided what was needed.
    Love & courage to our teachers and future teachers 😍🥰🫂!!!’

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  15. I am decidedly NOT a teacher ! I stood in front of a 3rd and 4th class and tried to remember how one multiplies fractions. I simply couldnt remember and the book made no sense… but I love school… I LOVE THE NEW TEACHERS! so much fun learning to know them and what makes them happy…
    So my best advice to all you “girls” out there dont be scared to give it your best and be a true follower of the best Teacher…

    Reply

  16. My husband taught 13 years and it was some of the best years of our lives. May I add? If teaching is not your “cup of tea” then think of the elderly that you can help. Our care homes need workers. It is truly a blessing because it takes so little to make someone happy! When I worked with the elderly it helped me more than I was ever able to help them. A life of service cannot be beat no matter where your journey takes you.

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  17. I love this article!!! So true! For those of you that say you can’t do it… have you tried? I would not do it on your own tho. Take God into the classroom every day. I remember one day when I could feel God’s hand on my shoulder guiding. I certainly did not have all the answers but it’s a time in my life I would not trade!

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  18. Teaching has been the most rewarding job I ever held! If God has called you to teach you will be able to get the lessons across and keep order! Be humble enough to take a suggestion, strong enough to integrate it into your classroom, and BE CLOSE to God!! (Quoting a friend here 😊) Keeping order and supervising may not be considered teaching in the minds of some but they are SUPER important. New teachers please follow the handbook guidelines of your school (if you haven’t been given any please ask!) The board and parents have put those rules together because we want our children in a supervised and safe environment. When children are not supervised some pretty bad things can occur. Students who have spare time need to be occupied in the classroom, even if it is “only” reading a story book, NOT wandering around the premises at will.

    There was a fairly large family at one school I taught at for several years and I ended up teaching 3 of the siblings. Now, years later one of the older brothers that never was my student came up to me and thanked me for what I had done. “We could tell you cared about us,” he said. That wasn’t me, that was what I was able to do with the direction of God in my life! He can work through anyone in the same way! Step forth in faith, grasp God’s hand, take up your books, and teach! …. And be blessed!!

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  19. As a teacher that has taught several years, I’ve noticed a sliding in children being taught respect and responsibility. Also, parental support has gone downhill since I began teaching. I love teaching school, but if the parents work together with us as a team, it goes so much better. I love my students and want them to succeed!🥰

    Reply

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