Busy, a word that many teachers know and know well. I haven’t blogged in some three months due to this same word. Something we have all come to grasp with when we take on this profession. I know other jobs are equally as busy as teachers, but it just seems as if there is never enough time in the day to get all the things done you want to get done.

I just like many of you are bogged down with many committee meetings and lesson planning and grading etc. Just this year alone I am teaching a new class(History of Modern Music).I have been selected to be on the School Leadership team, District Leadership team, chosen by a range finding committee with our state TN Ready test, strategic planning committee, etc. On top of that, I am Married with two children! There are many days when I just feel I am drowning in paperwork, but the reward is so much worth it.

The reward is the relationships you build with students and former students. Just the other night I was reminded of this. At my daughter’s school, they were celebrating their Fall Festival; I was approached by a former student whom I had my very first year teaching. He came up to me shook my hand, and we shared some stories from that year. I apologized to the young man for not being the best that year. He responded we knew you were new and we tested you every moment we could get. He went on to tell me how much he respected me and how he enjoyed my class. This student is one who didn’t go to college, he has a good job with our local road department and will continue to serve and live a productive life in our community. In my book, this conversation will be greater than any test score I may ever get!

So as we are entering the Thanksgiving holiday keep this in mind no matter how busy our jobs get. You are shaping a relationship with a student that will be priceless.