Posted by Mrs. Curran, 3rd Grade –
My first year teaching a parent told me that I would become a better teacher once I had kids. At the time I really didn’t understand what the parent meant. I figured, what is the difference? Cursive is still cursive, reading is still reading, multiplication is still multiplication, and well, the continents aren’t exactly going to change names or trade places whether I have kids or not. I didn’t realize until the last few years what the parent meant.
My oldest started school at Bishop Marshall this year. I am one of the parent/teachers at school – a teacher with my child attending the same school. Mom and Mrs. Curran are always in the building. I get to see her all day whether in her classroom, lunch, hallway, out at recess. But the last few months I have been on maternity leave with our third child – our final show as I call him. Now I don’t see her all day. I drop her off and pick her up 7 hours later, and now I get that 2 minute report in the car. “How was your day? What did you learn? Tell me everything!” My daughter replies, “It was good.” And done. That’s it. She is 7 hours away from me, and that is all I hear?!?!?
Now I’m on the outside looking in. I never realized how lucky I was to be there until I wasn’t. No hallway run ins, no being there to wipe her tears if I see her fall, no checking in to make sure she eats her lunch. All these things are being done by her teacher. Just like almost everyone else’s kids in the school. All of the parents are also on the outside looking in. I know now even more that deep dependence and trust that parents have on us as their child’s teacher.
I’ve always known and taken very seriously my role as a teacher for each of my students. While at school, I’m the mom, dad, friend, teacher, disciplinarian, negotiator, coach, defender, protector, and so many more things to each of the kids. When I meet with Mrs. Wilson, our principal, about students, she always acknowledges that I am great advocate for each of my students. Well, the way I see it I have to be. Their voice is so small, and mine is so big at school. Who else is going to fix things for them? It’s part of my job to make learning easier, better, faster, or even harder for those who need the challenge. Maybe I do make more work for myself, or I think about things more than I should, but I see that I’m the only 3rd grade teacher they are going to have so I better make it count.
You never really know how your child is going to do in school until they go to school. Will she behave, be respectful, make friends, struggle with math or reading or writing, etc.? I know I can’t help with all of those things with my own child throughout the school day. It has to be left to her teacher. Just like all of those things are my responsibility while my 3rd graders are with me all day.
I can now understand better with each day what the parent meant – I’ll be a better teacher when I have kids. With each student, I see and treat each child as my own. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to take the time to explain what she doesn’t understand even if it takes more time than I have. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to give her harder work if she isn’t challenged. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to give her a tissue when she is crying, or pat her on the back and tell her it is ok when she is upset. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to show her how to do a math problem 5 times if that is what it takes for her to understand it. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to stick up for her when she is too scared or shy to do it for herself. I’d want my daughter’s teacher to discipline her when she is in the wrong and help her grow to in the way that she needs to in order to become a better person. Because I want each of those things for my own child, I try to do this for each of my students.
With each year that goes by my perspective as a parent has changed just like my perspective as a teacher since having each of my kids. My job is very big and it goes beyond teaching those that are small. Each parent that leaves their child with me is on the outside all day and entrusting me to do what I would do for my own child while we are on the inside.
