Chocolate for the Teach

If teaching were a mere transaction of knowledge from the teacher to the student, then the job of teaching would be easy and business-like. But it’s not that way. The vast majority of teachers that I have grown up knowing and have come to know as colleagues care about the whole development of the children they teach. We care about whether the student had breakfast that morning or if she has any books at home. We care about who the students are as people and the character they’re developing. It’s a very personal job. During the school year, children spend about half their waking hours with teachers. Teachers are helping raise these children. A struggle since I began teaching has been relationships with parents. I have had parents that serve and give so much, I don’t even know how I would go about repaying them. I just am in awe of the incredible hearts they have to help not only their child, but the others in the class. And then there are a few—maybe one or two out the ...

If you are a parent, you probably already know this.  I, however, am not a parent. Granted, I knew that children just don't come wrapped in packages wielding magnificent promises such as, "Simple" and "Stress-Free." And yet, I had hope as a new teacher. After my first year of teaching, I discovered that no amount of streamlining and planning on my part could account for the vast array of surprises and sometimes challenges that present themselves throughout the day. This was because of the very unpredictable factor known as children. Here are some examples:  Have you ever had to make a quick beeline for some supply across the room? You've charted your exact steps and mentally accounted for the approximate time it will take you to obtain said supply, but unknown factors occur! A child suddenly hops into your path out of what seems like nowhere! What are they thinking?! Do the children not consider the teacher's ease and conven...