Why I teach...

I'm starting something new. We'll see how this goes like my Tuesday's Treasures I haven't kept up with. I've been a little preoccupied with my family and school... which I graduate in about 5 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED :) Anyways I'm a very reflective person as I'm sure you know. I look at most situations and ask myself how could I do that better? That's the teacher in me. I write and journal so much during my student teaching experience because I want to remember the days that were tough and that days that ROCKED. 

I just started a Poetry Unit with the Fourth Grade Class I'm in. The kids are loving it. I'm loving it it's probably my favorite thing to teach so far. Some of my students aren't very motivated and I think life is really rough for them, school is a good safe place for them most of the time. One of my students didn't come to school because they ran out of gas and didn't have enough money to get more to get to school. Breaks my heart, however, when going to meet with the social worker as the student does weekly, the student said that he couldnt' meet today because he didnt' want to miss poetry! I have some of the most amazing little writers in this room. I'm empowering them to feel as if they ARE writers. I know that I can't change the student's out of classroom experiences, but as a professional I do strive to support these young writers and make a difference in their lives from within the classroom. 

So to my big teddy bear fourth grader that loves his poetry keep going buddy loving school will get you far in life :) 

Here is a poem one of my students wrote... gives me goosebumps something I will keep forever. 

America

America the great

I really don't hate

Even though the economy is small.

In a time of low money

There's a surplus of honey

 From the bees way up tall.

From the ground to the sky

Happiness in high

In great, America the beautiful.

This is energy I tell ya. This gives so much purpose to my teaching which is what it's all about. This is something so far removed from the test scores and writing promts and worksheets and scripted curriculum guides... You don't get THIS there. 

THATS WHY I TEACH