Recognition
I thrive on routine. Changes to it can throw me off. Getting back into it takes time. I spent a long weekend out of town, off my routine, out of kilter. Taking Bearings is part of that routine. In more than two years of writing this newsletter, I have not missed a week. But my efforts to write a newsletter yesterday, after the compressed weekend and week, yielded only a thousand words of random meanderings that don’t merit sharing. So, thanking you in advance for your patience, I’m offering an abbreviated — and a bit off-topic — newsletter this week for The Wild Card. Read on!
Out-of-the-Blue Thank You
Last week, I received a short message from a former student. I encountered this student in several classes early in my career. (I don’t remember precisely, but she probably graduated around 2005.)
Many years ago, she reached out and updated me on her life. (Teachers love this, by the way.) She was selling real estate. This time the update connected more: she is in her seventh year of teaching middle school history. What a delight to learn someone is doing something with the degree they worked so hard to obtain!
Then, she offered something personal:
As an educator, I’m often reminded that we impact people that we don’t expect to. That kid who is just kind of there, but turns out was a lot more there than we understood. When I think of this, is when I remember you. You did good.
This sort of thing chokes me up.
No teacher I know does the work because they want recognition or prestige or frequent pats on the back. So on those occasions when a student (or colleague or administrator or parent) takes a moment to offer a positive reflection, it makes a big impact.
This kind comment is also a good reminder of at least two things. First, let people know their impact on you; it increases positive vibes in the world. Second, we rarely know all of what’s going on in our classrooms (or workplaces or neighborhoods). That quiet person may be absorbing more than we think. Assuming otherwise leads to many misperceptions.
I am grateful to have received this note. It is clear to me she is doing good, too.
(Thank you for accepting a shorter than usual newsletter and one a little off topic.)
Closing Words
Relevant Reruns
Given the short nature of this week’s newsletter and its topic, I have nothing in the archive that is directly analogous. However, I think this old newsletter makes some relevant points. Someday, maybe I will write more about what teaching meant to me. The one piece of writing I’ve published that connects with my teaching values is here.
New Writing
If you missed it, I posted a new interview last weekend for paid subscribers. Upgrade for full access.
As always, you can find my books, and books where some of my work is included, at my Bookshop affiliate page (where, if you order, I get a small benefit).
Taking Bearings Next Week
Things should be back to normal next week with, perhaps fittingly, The Classroom. Stay tuned!