It’s Thanksgiving week, which reminds us to take a moment to be grateful for things we have and things we cherish. Along with our families, friends and comfortable homes full of holiday food, we are grateful for our profession and all of the good things we find there. We feel blessed that we have found meaningful work that fills us with passion and energy.
We are grateful that we get to witness the growth in our students from the time we begin working with them until they are ready to leave us. Though we often don’t notice it from day to day, from beginning to end the differences are often dramatic. We are rewarded by growth and honored to have played a part in it.
We are grateful to work in a profession where we get to determine the environment in which we work. We can make our classrooms joyful places of learning or dread filled places of despair. We can make our classrooms safe for all who visit and all who learn there. Though we may not be able to influence the larger political climate we work in, we can choose the weather in our classrooms.
We are grateful for the many diverse people we have had the opportunity to meet. We have worked with many highly dedicated parents, students, teachers and other school professionals. We have been in classrooms across the country and around the world, and the people we have met have given us perspective and filled us with possibility.
We are grateful that we can call our colleagues at night or on the weekends, to brainstorm solutions or to celebrate successes. When you love your work, you will gladly have those discussions with each other. Our colleagues often understand the situation in a way that our families can’t. Our colleagues know and they are there for us.
We are grateful that we have met some of our best friends through our teaching careers. Sharing a love of what you do with someone who is as inspiring and dedicated as you strive to be creates a bond that is everlasting.
We are grateful that we have been able to serve as advocates for students, giving a voice to those who don’t always have one. Empowering others is a responsibility we take seriously. You can count on us to be your champion.
We are grateful for our former students, who smile and embrace us and sometimes tell us that though it didn’t seem like it at the time, we have made a difference in their lives. Our former students have a way of coming back into our lives at unexpected times and in unexpected places. These joyous encounters are among the greatest gifts we have ever received.
And lastly, we are grateful for our readers. We have readers from all around the country as well as Australia, Singapore, Moldova, Japan and Peru. As we move forward, we hope you will continue to read our posts, comment and share. If you haven’t joined us on Facebook (TYTtribe), or Twitter please do. We would be delighted to have you join us.
We look forward to future conversations with you. Get started now by leaving a comment telling us about something educational that you’re grateful for this holiday season.
Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and your families,
Among what is written here, this sentence stood out: “We have been in classrooms across the country and around the world, and the people we have met have given us perspective and filled us with possibility.” I will always be thankful for the opportunity to experience classrooms in Windhoek, Namibia in July of 2011. It was a time when I realized that no matter where students are, they share many commonalities. Also, that teachers both in the US and abroad do the best they can to educate students given the resources that are available. In the case of the classrooms I visited there, fewer resources were available than in the schools where I work today, but the students – and the teachers – were eager to learn from us. What they didn’t realize is that I was learning a great deal from them as well! I learned so much during my 12 days there, and as I reflect back on those experiences, I continue to realize just how much they positively impacted me!
SO much to be thankful for – including the two of you! 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your experience in Namibia, Janine. We, too , discovered that students are students, whether they are in Africa or Ecuador or Los Angeles. We also found teachers to be open to us and welcoming to our ideas and experiences. The world is a great teacher, isn’t it? We are grateful to call you a friend and colleague!
A beautiful post that sums up the teaching experience! I am grateful I can teach what I love at the university level. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Thank you Terri, being a university adjunct has its rewards, especially in working with the students. As they always say, it isn’t about the paycheck! Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your mini break before exams!