@sseamom wrote, "…Sometimes it’s less about the way they teach than the way they interact with students, regardless of topic or ability. As of now, she plans on majoring in special ed… "
This pretty much sums up the ‘how’ of my son’s first interaction with school and the amazing eye some educators have; the amazing heart and ability to touch a life.
My son’s kindergarten teacher was formerly trained as a special education teacher, and had worked as such for a few years before moving into the district. She took the position open to her in order to get a post there (outside of special ed), and had sold her home in another state and moved her husband with her to do so.
This young teacher recognized that my son was at the other end of the education spectrum for which her specific training had prepared her, but that nonetheless, he needed special attention, and in order for his needs to be met there would have to be special programs and curricula in place. I loved her.
She loved all the students to a tremendous degree, and worked tirelessly to show it. She was also the best looking woman around for about 20 miles in every direction.
When I presented her with a letter of appreciation at the end of the school year, she broke into sobs and hugged me and expressed to me that the district had decided not to renew her contract, and that it had been revealed to her that many of the other parents had complained about her. She said the letter meant more than I could know, and came at just a time when she needed it.
So here’s to the heart of the special education teacher. Here’s to the heart of every teacher who thinks their kids (our kids) are special.
Graduating classes at our high school are around 600 kids. Maybe 30 minutes of speeches and choir and other formalities and then all the names. Favorite part of graduation is that the two counsellors who alternate reading names announce each one as if the next WWF champion is entering the ring. Every single kid from A to Z is made to sound like a superstar.
In the midst of APs here. Only 1 this week. Three more to go. Study weekend awaits. I think he will be able to find the energy to get through it but he is definitely ready to be finishing up. I REALLY need to get a gift for his recommender and a few for fellow graduates this weekend as parties begin tonight. Yikes!
@Cheeringsection Back in elementary school, I used to get the boys’ teachers a beautiful windchime. I included a note to think of every child whose life they touched whenever they heard the chimes . Something different, and I know not everyone loves windchimes, but they always seemed genuinely appreciated. One of my favorite gifts I ever received was a chocolate cake and a Swiss Army knife with a note which said " What every successful women needs to survive" I forgot. I also enclosed a Staples gift card with the windchimes.
graduation question-- does your child’s school announce their college choice at graduation? if so… what do they do for non-college-bound kids? do they announce honors college (eg. … honors college at … university)?
D’s graduating class is a bit over 200 and they do announce college, they rarely have a non-college bound so that hasn’t been an issue-- though I think there may be 1 or 2 this year.
@Waiting2exhale that is such a lovely story and you are a gifted writer in how you tell it!
I hope that teacher found another district that appreciated her. I have known several teachers whose first gig wasn’t a match but who went on to be “rock stars” later on.
@2manybooks@crowlady One of the main issues with this teacher is that she gave tests disproportionately hard to what she was teaching. Almost 30% of the class (the top math kids in the district who can only take BC calculus as seniors if they started on a double accelerated track in 6th grade) got a D on the midterm. When we questioned it, we were told that those scores would equal a 5 on the AP exam so it was okay. WHAT??? When we expressed that a top score on a national exam should not equal a D in our district, we were met with silence and nothing was done. I’m sure this affected some kids’ college admissions as many in the class were applying to Ivies and other select colleges. One college emailed us that the mid year report in this one class pulled him out of consideration for merit aid. This teacher may know BC Calculus, but she does not understand how to teach and test for it and she does not understand the impact on these kids, especially the stress she put them through. This is considered the hardest class in our high school and is an elective - no kid had to take it. Completely optional. Okay, the class is done even though it wrecked S’s senior GPA. He could take the final to try and pull it up but it’s a crapshoot (she’d probably make it just as ridiculously hard) and no one else is taking the final so he really does not want to do it. I know I need to let it go but I’m so mad on his behalf.
@oneundecided - DD’s school lists everyone’s college choice in the program. Small college prep school so everyone is moving on - even if to community college.
Oh not at all, @PhilaSkiMom ! D’s class is about 23.
@Waiting2exhale we too had a WONDERFUL kindergarten teacher. A former social worker only a few years into teaching as her 3rd career, she handled non-English speakers, a couple behaviorally challenged boys, three bright early-entrance kids (D was one of those) and a few learning challenged kiddos with aplomb. She really had every kid feeling valued and that they were learning. I have compared every teacher D has had since to Ms. Ford and only a few measure up. She was a rock star.
The kids at D’s HS write 1 paragraph bios for their programs, where they list what they’ll be doing post-graduation. The school prides itself on getting every kid into at least a community college program-most go to 4-year schools, though, many the first in their families to do so.
D’s school has a class between 800 and 840. The school has a paper which publishes the graduating students’ future plans as a section they sell a week before graduation.
d’s school seems pretty different from those who have posted so far, even though I think it is pretty typical of many schools, at least here in rural upper Midwest.
About 230 grads. Less than 75% to higher education. Others either join military or work, mostly in unskilled factory jobs or agriculture. Of those going to higher Ed, about half to local community college or trade school. Of those going to 4-yr education, most stay instate. A fair number go to Minnesota (we have reciprocity with Mn). Less than 10 kids going beyond those borders–D who is going to Pitt is constantly queried on why she is going “so far” to school. She can’t wait to go!
Top 10 students: 1 to Pitt, 1 to Carleton, 1 to Macalester, 7 to UW Madison.
I haven’t posted on CC in a long time – not since my ds went through the college application process a few years back, and even then, I was more of a lurker/reader than poster. I found this thread and have really enjoyed the support that is offered to each family as the decision has bee made, and even though I haven’t posted, I related to so many of your stories and eagerly awaited reading where everyone was deciding to go.
Unfortunately, I was a stowaway on the SS Indecision, and as each family disembarked, I hid waiting for my dd to make her decision by the May 1st deadline. She jumped ship, drifted away on a dingy, and she/we are now on a deserted island trying to get back to shore – all this to say, she committed to a college to hold the spot but isn’t sure she wants to attend because, although the program would be phenomenal for her, there are a couple of “issues” that make her question full commitment, one of which is the cost would put her in debt. Unfortunately, there really aren’t any other programs like this that we know of so not sure what to do, i.e., gap year to regroup (don’t really want to do this, exhausted from this whole year of auditioning, essays, etc. – you all know the drill) or attend (which I am worried about)
Anyway, just wanted to vent – maybe someone can throw us a line to get us back on shore?
(BTW, dd wants to study commercial voice with music industry/entrepreneurial etc – if anyone has experience with this, I’d love to hear your suggestions and thoughts.)