Appreciate Yourself

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week—the time of year when parents and students express gratitude for the hard work we put in all year. I enjoy the cards, notes of appreciation, and hugs from my students. It’s always nice to feel as though our hours of planning and effort do not go unnoticed.

This year Teacher Appreciation Week falls on the heels of a big educational award ceremony in our community. Our local performing arts center, in conjunction with various foundations and members of the community, invited people to nominate local teachers who go above and beyond. I was surprised to get an email notifying me that a parent had nominated me. I wept as I read the sweet letter which came at a time when I felt like my tank was almost empty.

Shortly after, another email informed me that in order to complete my nomination, I had to submit an essay sharing why I thought I was an outstanding educator. I opened my computer and stared at the screen. I struggled to write anything. After a week, I had a sentence, but could not come up with 500 words telling why I was an inspiring educator. The deadline passed, and I did not submit my paperwork.

It's easy to tell others about the great things they do. Why couldn’t I do it for myself? I began to notice and make a mental list of the positive differences I make in my classroom, and it has become easier to recognize even the smallest of things that are worth celebrating. There were smiles from a student who can decode CVC words after struggling for months to get those letter sounds down. There was joy while listening to a student read during Read to Self and silently cheering him through. I rejoiced inwardly when another student groaned because he didn't want to stop writing in his journal, the same student who couldn’t even write his name at the beginning of the year. 

We are our greatest critics. We need to learn to be our greatest promoters. It’s not every week that people take the time to tell us that we are doing a good job. We need to learn to tell ourselves what a difference we are making in the lives of those around us. Let’s fill each day with moments of teacher appreciation.