Yes, it is that time of year. All of you teachers out there know that April and May are months filled to the brim with impatience and excitement. There is the impatience that speaks, “Get me away from these immature thirteen year old crazies before we hurt each other.” And then there is the excitement that says, “This is the home stretch… this is when you see your efforts come to fruition.” Either way, the truth is, Davy and I both are ready to bid farewell to this group of students and in a short time (only August) welcome another group of shining faces. Honestly, I have never been more ready for summer vacation in all my years of teaching. It seems that as I get older, the students get younger. (I think this is actually not the case… but rather that I am just aging.) However, there seems to be an ocean of difference between teaching middle schoolers now that I am a mother of two than back in the days when I was childless. Age and motherhood have made me more aware of who I am in the classroom. I am to be a teacher and role model first.  I am no longer the “cool” teacher. Sure, my students enjoy coming to class and having me as a teacher, but down the hall there is a younger, hipper, more sought after teacher. It’s been a relief to me to have this experience. I now better understand the role of teacher. Teachers exist to teach students to think. Most (not all, but most) students have meaningful friendships with their peers (8th grade friendships, none the less, but they are meaningful.) I am no longer seen as available for that kind of relationship with my students. They used to try to go there, making the boundaries blurry at times. Now, being older (and hopefully a tad wiser) they see me as the person to look to for knowledge and guidance. I can now discipline these students with respect (don’t worry, corporal punishment is out these days…ha). But the experience this year has been stupendous. I feel like a “teacher” and not just some glorified “youth director.” I have never felt as fulfilled teaching my students the wonders of science, that it is ok to doubt, and that they are all capable of success. And to tell the truth, I have never been more ready for a nice long break. 

If you are a teacher, what have you learned about your role as “teacher” over the years?