Tell someone they are awesome.
Done 1-18 (Yes I know it's early but I really needed to change my mood that day)
Yes, it's back, but Be Nice to a Stranger has been renamed to PROJECT NICE!
I think the name is a little bit more catchy.
I'm excited to start this back up again. Mostly because there were things I didn't get around to doing the first time around. This one I've been meaning to do for a while.
Event:
As you all know, I am a teacher. There are some people who I see every day and never speak to. There is one teacher, I've never even said hello to. But every time I see him working with a kid, it makes me happy. Watching him makes me want to be a better teacher. No matter what time of the day it is, he always seems genuinely interested in what the student is saying. He's constantly moving from kid to kid to make sure they fully understand the material. He's what a teacher should be doing.
He's also a first year teacher. He's still hopeful and happy. Please keep in mind I'm not saying that teachers stop being hopeful and happy after the first year, but the zest for job weans a little. Reality slowly creeps in.
I love my job and I can't really imagine doing anything else, but am I as optimistic as I used to be? No way.
But watching him work with a kid, reminds me of the kind of teacher I was and who I wish I could still be.
So I told him that. In a lull moment, I walked over to him and told him that watching him work with other students makes me want to be a better teacher.
Reaction:
Instant smile. We chatted for a few minutes. I got to know one of my co-workers and it made me feel all warm and mushy inside. And that was just how I felt.
Anyone who is new at their job needs constantly reassurance that they are doing the right thing.
Would I do it again: Sure.
Time: 3 minutes
Effort: None
Cost: Nothing.
How's Project Nice going for everyone else?
Monday, February 1, 2010
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Nice one, Erinn!! Teachers get so little feedback that I'm sure it meant a lot to him!! Yay....project nice is underway!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello it's Andrew Battisti. A couple of days ago I randomly began thinking about your class and all the my wonderful experiences in it. This caused me to Google your name in hopes of finding the title of the book you said you were going to publish. Instead I found an interview of you on an news channel about this blog. Your stories have completely blown me away and already made a great impact on my life. Everyday I try to help people in school. Whether it be in class, in the hall or after school. It may not be much but it always cheers me up to know that I have helped somebody else out. Don't feel disheartened about your lack of "optimism" as you said. You are one of the few teachers that I can look back upon and feel fortunate that I was in you class. You taught us well but you also treated us like adults(in some respects). Your may have come into school angry or upset but your devotion to us as students was always clear. I was always glad to be in your class no matter what the circumstance. You are a great teacher and you always will be. Thank you for all the wonderful experiences and inspiration.
ReplyDeleteAndrew I tried to send you a message via Blogger but your account is private. Which is cool, don't worry about it. I'll say what I have to say here.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't know if you're going to come back and check if I wrote back to you. I don't think you get e-mails saying when someone responded to a comment you made.
Anyway, thank you. thank you so much. When I read your message I teared up a little and to say it made my day was an understatement.
You made my mom cry--- she follows the blog too.
Thank you for your kind words. I try to teach my students like they're people too, because you know, they are. It's easy to forget that just because they are younger doesn't mean they don't have all the same feelings I have. I try to treat every student the way I would like to be treated.
Thank you again for being brave enough to tell me what you think. That's a very hard thing to do.
I hope all is well with you.
Thanks for your support.
Be being awesome