"Dear Ms. S,
Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for not giving up on me when I gave up on myself. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas/holiday. You're a wonderful teacher. Love, K"

This is a letter a student gave me. It was written in green and red marker. This student did give up on herself and I haven't given up on her. She will do well if she believes in herself. Why do we often only listen to the people who tell us we can't? It looks like she just may be listening to me...

from a colleague

You do so many fantastic things for our school. We're so lucky to have you here now!!!! You're the best!

him

A past student of mine told a fellow colleague that he learned more from me in my class than other years. He was one of my challenging students so to hear this is yet another reason why I teach. We live for the little victories. We live for the minute moments when a kid shifts from "I don't care" to the "hey maybe I can do this" I try to remember this on the days when I have parents who complain to me when their child plagarizes a song as his own poem and they think I am being too hard on their precious child. I have to remember that it is the small moments that make what I do worthwhile.

Slam Poetry

I just wanted to say thank you again for introducing slam poetry to my son.
He has changed so much since he's started being involved with this. He has always been expressive and verbal but his interest in poetry now has grown so much and he is writing all the time. The quality of his poetry has improved. When you read his work you can feel the emotion. I am also impressed with the number of poems he is writing. He will be working on several different poems at once. My son wrote a poem for me recently and it made me cry (in good way). It is so nice to have something else to share with him.
Thank you for planting the seed....

Last year...

Ms. S,

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for everything you have done for my son. As you know, in the beginning of the year, english was his worst subject and he didn't like you very much- he thought you were way too tough on him. His attitude with english and with you is completely different now. He actually enjoys it now and you have become one of his favorite teachers.

I just wanted you to know that I think you did an awesome job with him and I thank you very much for that. Wish he could have you as a teacher his last 2 yrs.

Have a great summer.

PSAT's

Hey Ms. S!
I just wanted to send you an email saying thank you. Thank you for helping me out with the PSAT's yesterday after school. The information and hints gave me more confidence then I expected and it helped succeed with the test this morning! I did not know what I was in for and without your help I probably would've done horribly. So thank you once again. Your help was greatly appreciated!

See you in class tomorrow,
K :)