I got a letter from a student yesterday:
Dear Mrs. K Denithorne (don’t know how to spell it),
You are my favorite teacher because you made learning math, which I did not like, easier and teaching me to think of different ways to solve a problem not just giving up in math and other things. Something that I will miss from your class is how comfortable you made it and how you had a fun way of teaching.
This letter was huge for me, HUGE! Sure my main objective is to teach “the standards.” However this year in particular I have been very focused on improving student’s mindsets towards mathematics. This particular student did master the standards quite well.
But what was important to her?
1 – she did not like math and I made it easier
2 – she learned to solve problems in different ways
3 – to not just give up in math
4 – that she was comfortable in my class
5 – I had a fun way of teaching
Thank you SO MUCH to the student who wrote this!!!! And to the teacher who forwarded it to me! This means SO much!! I seriously cried when I got it yesterday. Yes, yes, YES!!!!! This, THIS is what I want my students to leave my classroom with!!!!!!
If anyone thinks they can just go into a classroom, spew facts, and think that the students are just going to absorb it, you are sadly mistaken. Of course many of you have already figured that out during the last couple of months trying to teach your lovelies at home. Being a teacher is an art, it is not being a walking, talking, textbook.
Oh, the photo was from Back to School Night in August of 2019.
2 Comments
How great is that?!!! Love it.
What a lovely letter. As a retired teacher I know important that type of reinforcement can be.