Changing Lives one child at a time

Changing Lives one child at a time.

March 13, 2013

"Do not expect to be Perfect at once. 

If you do you will be disappointed. 

Be better today than you were yesterday,
 And be better tomorrow than you are today." 
 ~President Lorenzo Snow 

My jobs consists of working for Club Heights Afterschool Program, and running the P.E. Program. You may think that I am brave, crazy and out of my mind for wanting to work with kids 5 days a week, but I look at it as changing lives one child at a time. I love my job and I know like many others I am not doing it because I get paid billions of dollars, but I do it because I want to make a change in the lives of the kids I teach. Yes, they drive me crazy and I want to duct tape them to their seats so that they will sit still. Ha ha like I would ever do that, but in all reality I love the kids I teach they bring a smile to my face daily. I learn so much from them and I in turn can teach them how to change the world and make a difference, well at least I try to lol!! 

      Anyway I came across this short story while in the faculty room I thought it was very profound and it got its point across. I hope after you read this that you too will understand what we as teachers do everyday to help the kids we teach.

                 The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" 

                To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make? Teacher Bonnie who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

    "Well,  I make kids work harder then they ever thought they could. 

I make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor winner.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. 

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it. 

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them how to write and then I make them write. 

Keyboarding isn't everything.  

I make them read,read,read.

I make them show their work in math. 

They use their God given brain,not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. 

Finally, I make them understand that if they use their gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. 

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay not attention because they are ignorant. 

Yo want to know what I make? 

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ALL OF YOUR LIVES, EDUCATING KIDS AND PREPARING THEM TO BECOME CEO's, AND DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS.... 

What do you make Mr. CEO? 

His Jaw Dropped; and he went silent. 

                 I loved this, because like many people they forget or are ignorant and forget the impact we as teachers have in so many lives. And we are the ones that will send them off to become; doctors, lawyers, CEO's and Engineers, because without us they wouldn't be able to get to where they want to go in life.