I wrote this in response to The Daily Post’s prompt We can be taught.
Teacher, Teacher
When I taught years ago
There were days when
The mornings were hectic
Spent bent over student desks
discovering algorithms
And manipulating simple
Machines and describing
Force in terms of Newtons
On spring scales that broke
Routinely.
There were days when I
Daydreamed an alternate
Career for myself as a greeter at
Wal-mart, feeling that any
Job would be better than that
Of an elementary school
Educator who spent every waking
Moment prepping, grading, or
Worrying over pre-teen angst.
There were days when I
Felt like a master educator
Full of energy and capable
Of single-handedly saving
An entire generation from
The abyss of ignorance
Armed only with a piece of
Chalk and an eraser.
There were days when my
Classroom management
Skills went out the window
And I’d find myself standing
Rigid, in the midst of chaos
In fear of losing my ever-loving
Mind.
There were days when the
Rewards were huge, when a
Group of reluctant learners
Experienced that aha!
Moment and called out,
Teacher! Teacher!
There were also days mired
In test preparation, drill and
Kill, and drill some more and I’d
Watch the lights flicker out in
Some students’ eyes.
There were days when all my
Heart desired was an opportunity
To use the restroom before my
Poor bladder exploded.
There were days when our
Classroom buzzed with the
Excitement of creativity.
And days when I thought my
Heart would burst with love.
Those are the days I miss.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
Though my teaching was done in a Montessori classroom, I really enjoyed this. It taps the feelings of teaching 🙂 I know that you are Scottish, but I’m wondering if you have any good links for sites that teach about Irish people. I’m adding a tab to my blog called “The World is a Stage” as a resource to help develop better characters.
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Only my ancestry is Scottish–I’m an American girl. I can’t think of anything that would provide a teaching resource for Ireland. Have you tried Pinterest?
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Not yet. I’m not the best at social media. I have a character who is proud of her Irish background, and I want to make her more dimensional. I’ve been surfing around to find what I can. Do you know if there is a specific way to search for something like that through WordPress?
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Hmmm. I think you could go to the tag icon and add Ireland to your list of search items. I’ll go on Pinterest and see what I can find.
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Thanks. I’ll look for the tag option 🙂
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If you click on “reader” the tag should be in the top right hand corner–on an iPad that’s where it is. It looks like a tiny clothing tag.
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I see it! Very good, and thank you. I’ll try now.
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Good luck!
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I found some Irish ballads. It’s a good start because my character was a dancer. My eyes are really tired tonight. I’ll try again tomorrow. Thanks again for the help. If you come across any good WordPress links between now and St. Patrick’s Day, will you add them to my post called Anything Irish?
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Definitely!
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Thanks 🙂
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Ok, you definitely need the Pinterest app. Just for background and ambulance if nothing else. It’s easy to download.
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Hmm…I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it 🙂
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Well said! You had a meaningful job, and touched many lives. You have my thanks and respect.
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Thank you.
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