When I was a child, I loved school. Sure I was excited for days off and summertime, but I truly enjoyed going to school. I loved my teachers (mostly) and learning (again, mostly). Growing up in a rural community, I also enjoyed the social aspects of school that I missed over breaks. Despite this, September made me a tad nervous. Going to a new grade, meeting a new teacher, and wondering if I would be liked by students and teachers alike. I worried I wouldn’t find the right classroom, or I’d forget my locker combination. As the school year progressed, the majority of my nerves faded as routines became habit and expectations were clearer.
It never occurred to me that my teachers might have similar feelings of trepidation.
As a teacher, I worry that I won’t meet the needs of each individual student. I want to maximize the potential of every student, keeping the class as a whole moving at the right pace without going too fast for the struggling student nor too slow for the advanced student. I want to establish a classroom that is fun and friendly and filled with love, laughter, forgiveness, and discovery, while maintaining the appropriate levels of order and structure to allow for maximum growth and learning. I want my heart to be like Christ, my classroom to feel like Martha Stewart, and my lessons to be like TED talks.
I worry I’ll forget to copy what I need for a lesson, that I won’t have enough time to grade papers with meaningful comments, and that my prayer life will be stagnant. I worry I will be impatient, ungracious, or that I will unintentionally say one of those things to a student that they carry as a scar into their adult lives. I worry I won’t prepare them adequately for their next grade or for life. Yes, I worry that I am not giving 9 and 10 year olds age appropriate life skills.
I also worry about parent teacher conferences, being late to staff meetings, and wearing the wrong clothes. I worry I will make a bad first impression, I’ll trip over my tongue during Back-to-School Night, or I will forget to book the hotel for our class trip. (Well, that last one is a very real fear based on an actual incident.) Honestly, not a lot has changed since high school.
With the new school year having just begun, let’s give everyone some extra grace. Teachers are working hard and have the very best intentions of being wonderful teachers for their class(es). Students are nervous and excited and possibly very self-conscious about themselves academically and socially. Parents are wanting to make things perfect for their kids, ease their worries, and provide the perfect balance of support and autonomy for their growing children. Let’s make a habit of lifting each other up in words and prayers.
Teachers, don’t pull that “don’t smile until Thanksgiving” garbage. The kids are already scared of you. (This might not apply to older students, but it’s definitely true in the younger grades.) Bring smiles and treats to the kids God entrusted to you. You’re going to be better at this job with each passing year. You’re going to make mistakes; grow as a result. You can only do so much. Don’t feel bad that you need to have some time for yourself and your family at night and on the weekends. Leave the grading at school at least a few nights a week so you don’t feel guilty not getting to it at night. Don’t read emails at night. You’ll be a better teacher if you have set some boundaries and get enough rest. You’ll also be a better teacher if you love and pray for your students more than if you simply plan and grade papers.
Parents, give you kids hugs and their teachers chocolate. It’s harder to be a kid than we remember, and it’s probably a lot harder today than it was when we were kids. Give yourself some grace as well. It’s not likely that you’re going to mess this parenting gig up any more than the rest of us as long as you love your kids and keep trying to do your best. Listen to your kids teachers. An outside perspective is often a good thing. Trust that your kid’s teachers have the best intentions and some practical knowledge of kids your child’s age. You’re the perfect parents for your child. God picked you for the job. Rest in that assurance.
September will soon fade into October, and things will settle into routine. You’ve got this.