I had this crazy idea pop into my head a couple of weeks ago. "You should write a book for teachers like you who are just trying to make a difference." I told you. Crazy idea! So, when the urge to write hits me I can not NOT write. I have to or it is like that prompting gets louder and louder in my head. Call it what you want, but I kinda know where I believe it comes from and I have learned not to be like Jonah. So...I started writing whatever came into my head...focus on education and teaching. All this started because a friend said I needed to help new teachers do what I do. I don't believe I do anything amazing, but if I can help then I want to help.
I am attaching the beginning of the "book." LOL! It probably will just become a glorified blog but we will see. I'm leaving that up to God...I'm just going to write and see what comes of it! I'd love to know your true thoughts (I think). Hope this makes a little sense. I am writing with names changed somewhat in case I do ever decide to do more than just write this for my daughters. :)
INTRODUCTION
Before we get into the heart of the book I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Mrs. Farmer...oops, that’s my teacher name. I’m Denise. I’m just a regular person…a wife, a mother, a grandmother (my favorite title), and I’m a Christian. I’ve spent my career, 27 years at the time of this introduction, as an ELAR teacher for 5th and 6th graders. I don’t have my masters degree. I’m not an admin or even an instructional coach. Nope! I’m an in-the-trenches, frontlines, regular ol’ classroom teacher. I probably lost some of you there. Who am I to write a book? What in the world can I offer? Good question! I’m not really sure how much I can offer, but I have spent my career training new teachers, guiding struggling teachers, working with difficult teachers (and admin) and figuring out how to reach the hearts of my students in the process. I may not come with a lot of research, statistics and (here it comes….) DATA to back up what I will write, but I will bring what wisdom I have gained from being in the trenches for these 29 years.
Why write what may become a book? Because I am nearing the end of this adventure in education. Retirement is close. I’m not ready yet. I honestly love what I do. I don’t always like what I have to do, but working with kids and teachers has been one of the greatest joys in my life. Lifelong friends have been made. People I have traveled life’s road with through the good, bad and ugly have come from the coworkers and even some of the parents and students I have been blessed to spend time with. If I can help someone else through the hard days, and as educators, we KNOW there are many hard days or even hard years, then I want to help. I can’t help myself. I’m a mother and teacher by nature.
But let’s hold off a bit on the teacher part and let me tell you about the mother part… I have three amazing daughters, Nicole, Elise and Micheala. Nichole is a kindergarten teacher, Elise is a new third grade math teacher, and Micheala is a 6th grade math teacher. To say I am a proud mom is an understatement. Another blessing I enjoy is that we all four work for the same school district…which happens to be the district we all graduated from. We are hometown girls! I also now can brag a little about the six amazing grandchildren that my husband of 36 years, and I spoil. Yes, you read that right. I still live and teach in the same school district where I grew up and graduated. We raised our family in what was still a small town at the time and now we all are giving back to the same school that helped shape our lives.
I can hear some of you now. How can she understand anything I am going through? She’s taught in a small town school. She’s never gone anywhere else. No masters degree. No leadership experience. Just a teacher. JUST A TEACHER? Let me tell you about being “just a teacher.” Those words ignite a fire in me. It sometimes is a fire of anger but mostly it is a fire of pride. Pride in being “just a teacher!” Teaching is a calling. I firmly believe not everyone can be an effective teacher. It is not a career for just anyone. It is not the old saying, “Those who can’t, teach!” As one of my former colleagues said, it is a vocation and not just a job.
2020 drove this point home. 2020 taught the world that educators are important. I remember people posting about not knowing how teachers do it with a room of 20 or more students when they could not handle their one own personal child when they had to “homeschool” them during the shutdown. We were valued. We were finally seen for the work we do. It wasn’t the admin that was recognized, it was the teachers who daily tried to figure out the best way to continue connecting with their students and helping them maintain some resemblance of education. Then, I also remember the days when we were called cry babies for being concerned about being forced to go back to work during the pandemic with very little concern or regard for our health. We were whiny and needed to just “suck it up” as one person told me to do. But we can discuss those things later.
So what will this book be about? (I tell my students never to start with “so” and look at what I did!) It will be about lots of things…relationships with coworkers and administrators, curriculum struggles, classroom management, making time for life outside the classroom, connecting with students, retirement and probably many other things I haven’t yet thought about. One thing I am leaning into is my faith and letting God take a lead in this venture of writing. All praise and glory belongs to Him. He has sustained me through the past 27 years of ups and downs and the good, bad and ugly days/years! I will not shy away from the importance of my faith in God and His influence in my classroom. No, I do not teach or preach in my classroom, but if the opportunity arises to lead by example or mention His name, I do.
Thank you for taking this adventure on with me. I am doing this for you…to bring some awareness and respect to “just us regular teachers.” You are the difference makers. You are the influencers. What you do matters more than any other profession. Without you, who would children learn from? Who would teach them to think for themselves? Who would teach them about history, science, literature, mathematics, music, art, friendship, equality, perseverance, and yes, even faith. You are a difference maker and it is time that you are recognized for what you do!
