What I Want My Students to Know

The end of the year is upon us, as I stated in my last post. At this point there are two half days left. Not even a full day to spend with my precious little babies. Next Wednesday they'll leave the nest of Room 210 and will be big ol' third graders, embarking into an unknown world of new standards and state exams and all the stress that comes with it.

And me, well I'll enjoy my ten weeks of summer vacation, duh.

Actually, I'll miss them a lot. There's something that happens to children between second and third grade. It's almost as if they sense that things are going to change for them. Their attitudes change to accommodate the rigor and work of the new things they are going to face in the upcoming year. It's probably good for them, but it makes me sad and it makes me realize just how much I love the grade level I teach.

Regardless of what age students are, however, I feel there are some things that they really, really need to know.

Here's a little list of what I hope my students know by next Wednesday.

1. You are safe. School is a place that children should always, always feel safe. Safe from bullies or sadness or hunger. Safe from abuse or people that don't value them. I want my students to know that they are safe, no matter what.

2. You are smart. Whatever else someone might tell you: they are wrong. You are smart. You may not be as smart as the kid sitting next to you, but I bet there are things that you know about that other people don't. Maybe you're smart about animals, books, video games, or plants (yeah, really). Being smart happens in all kinds of different ways because we are all very different. And you know what? That's okay.

4. You are special. Everyone is unique in their own way. Each child is someone's whole world, and we get to spend just a little bit of time with them each day. We are entrusted with something that another person loves more than anything else, and that makes teachers important.

5. You aren't that special. You might be someone's whole world, but you aren't the only person in it. If you treat people like you're better than them then you will lose them. It's very, very simple. We might all be different and unique, but we are also all equals.

6. You make a difference. Just by being in the world someone's life is better. Maybe it's mine, or your parents, or a person you haven't even met yet. You have the opportunity to be anything and anyone you want. I hope you seize that opportunity and, most of all, make me proud. ;)

7. I love you. You get on my every last nerve and drive me absolutely bonkers but I have grown to love you in 180 sometimes very long days. I love you because you are smart and special and are going to change the world one day. I know that because each and every year they change me.

Everything I've learned, I've learned from George Feeny.