There are many education blogs out there — so many, in fact, that I sometimes sit down to research an idea at night and end up blearily rubbing my eyes three hours later, wondering where the time has gone.  Yes, there are a lot of teacher blogs out there.

There are blogs that I go to for a printable, to marvel at a photo of classroom, or for a laughable anecdote from the teacher’s day.  But there are other blogs – ones that make me reflect on my practice, ones that make me question how I do something, and ones that ultimately make me change the way I teach.

A few weeks ago I was humbled when a former student shared in his high school valedictorian speech that I left an imprint on him in grade 5 – by teaching him that we can always be better.  Interestingly, I distinctly remember the first parent/student/teacher conference that this student had in grade 5 where I shared that  although X had made good progress, there was certainly  much more inside him that he could develop.

I think of the different blogs I read — the ones which show me photos and the others that fuel my passion for students and teaching.  As a teacher, I’d rather be the latter — one that inspires my students to push themselves, to never be done learning…to help students love learning the way I do.

I think of the last day of school last week.  There was food ordered, a movie to watch, and an assembly to get to.  But that didn’t stop us from having our usual morning conversations – the ones where we all catch up on what happened last night and how we can help each other with something.  Looking around the room last Friday at 8:05 a.m., I’d have thought that it was just a regular school day.  I try to remember that the small conversations that I have with students are meaningful to them – that when I talk with them, I look them in the eye, for it is those moments that my students will remember.  Somedays it’s hard, but I remind myself to my students, these conversations are important.  And for that reason, the conversations are important to me too.

The twelfth grader who was valedictorian is now off to college.  But one day, not too long ago, he sat in Team Straus and was inspired to learn.  I can’t wait to see where life takes him.

Related posts:

1. Learning Communities
2. Why, oh Why?
3. passion + skill (+ a hint of desperation) = success!
4. Student Experts
5. I’m upgraded!