Teaching in the Salt Lake District has been a career changing experience, to say the least. It's 113 days into the school year with 64 days left, but who's counting. I thought I would share some of the lessons I've learned in the past 113 school days.
1. A child who cannot speak a lick of English can say so much through the look of confusion during a math lesson or a smile after you've made a complete fool of yourself dancing in front of the class.
2. Title I schools have a lot of money. If you want technology in your classroom, go teach in a Title I school.
3. A 25 minute commute compared to a 10 minute commute is only good in theory.
4. Your heart will just break when you find out your students don't have any shoes for winter. Then you will spend your own limited funds to make sure they do.
5. Your heart will break and you may cry when you have a parent tell you that they have "given up" on their child because they don't know what else to do.
6. You will give up your only afternoon free to spend time with a student whose parents have "given up" on him so that you can show him that someone does want him to succeed.
7. Even though they drive you nuts on most days, these students will make you the happiest when they shout, "I finally get it! You're the best teacher ever!"
