One Proud Teacher!

Today, the 4th and 5th graders attended an assembly to listen to the ASB candidate speeches....so everyone in the cafeteria was a 4th or 5th grader.

I teach PE...only 4th and 5th grade....so I know/teach all the students in the cafeteria.

So again...I teach PE...I LOVE my job but often times it can be a thankless job. Some teachers (homeroom teachers) look at you as babysitter who looks after their kids so they can have their prep period....and that I just teach them games...not that I teach them about fitness, health, how their bodies work, etc....teachers aren't the only ones who think that way..I know some parents probably do to.

My kids are VERY smart...and I teach them about a lot of things, not just games. My kids more about their bodies than most adults! My kids can tell you what their gastrocnemius is! Do you know what that is? (It is your calve muscle)...they know nearly all the muscles (the real names) in their bodies. They know heart rate, how to calculate heart rate, target heart rate and why it is important. I could go on and on....I teach my kids. I don't babysit. And they love learning....they beg me for information! They also ask me at the end of the day to tell them a "fun fact for the day" which is something I came up with where I give them a little fun fact about fitness, their bodies, anything really...and they live for it!

I absolutely love my students and care about their education.

Anyhow...today at the candidate speeches, candidates start talking about who they are, their current and previous teachers, what they are going to do for the schools and all that good stuff. Anyhow, when students are naming off their teachers, I NEVER expect my name to come up because I am not a homeroom teacher...I am the PE teacher. BUT today, when one the students was listing off her teachers, she says...Mrs. Avrech! I was shocked!..I smiled and it really warmed my heart to be named with the other teachers....equal with the other teachers. When the student said my name, ALL the students in the cafeteria turned around and looked at me and smiled....like they were so happy that she mentioned my name. My heart melted again. THEN....another student said my name in his list of teachers!! Again...shocked!

At that moment, I felt appreciated...that the students really feel as if I am an asset to their education and that made me feel really good about what I do....PE teachers don't get that recognition very often, if at all. So it was great to have that experience today.

Today was a really great day at work...I felt appreciated, the kids did really great learning new dances today (which was partner dancing!) and it didn't rain and I was able to complete my lessons!

And to top it all off...when I got home, Libby called me and told me that Michelle (one of our supervisors) came out to watch her teach and as they were walking in the school, a bunch of girls were running to her and Michelle said something like, the kids must really like you here....and then Libby heard the girls say, "that isn't Mrs. Avrech!"....they thought I was Michelle and they were excited to see me! I haven't seen any of those kids since February when Libby came back from her Maternity leave and I left!...it was nice to be remembered and missed so much!

What a great day!