I am a relationship-heavy teacher. Much of what I hope to accomplish in my classroom depends on the relationships I foster with students. To help me be more critical and mindful of the bonds I forge in and out of the classroom, the posts in this series are anonymous letters to some of my current and former students.
My other serial posts can be found here.
Letter 1 – Dear K,
January 24, 2019
By letting me into your world, you’ve reminded me to seek out my students’ passions. Whatever they are, I need to find them.
Letter 2 – Dear E,
February 15, 2019
I guess I’m not a teacher’s teacher because there’s something about you being immersed in what you acutely love during class that doesn’t bother me as much as it probably should.
Letter 3 – Dear M,
April 17, 2019
While never rude, you’re in so much pain that you laugh and make a self-deprecating joke anytime I approach you about grades or hand back assessments. I want you to know that this eats away at me.
Letter 4 – Dear H,
May 25, 2019
I did manage to finish reading your letter and write my response, but not without a couple deep breaths. Thank you for being so kind. Thank you for the inspiration.
Letter 5 – Dear K,
July 1, 2019
Here, right now, in this letter that you’ll probably never read, I want you to know that I’m never, ever going to forget you or your story.
Letter 6 – Dear K,
February 8, 2020
You gave this lanky, naive, overeager guy from Ohio a chance, and I’m thankful for you anchoring my career with such a strong bond.
Letter 7 – Dear Students,
April 12, 2020
I want to strike the right balance of compassion and accountability, but instead, I’m being held hostage by a screen and a keyboard.
Letter 8 – Dear S,
January 26, 2021
If anything, you were looking past me. Way past me. I saw the classroom, grades, lesson plans. You saw the world.
Letter 9 – Dear R,
October 23, 2021
Without trying, you were my first proof that the humanity in teaching and learning has indeed returned. You were the sign that I was longing for.
Letter 10 – Dear S and L,
April 5, 2023
That changed the moment I saw you today. In an instant, it all came flooding back. The insecurities, the worries, and the unimaginable losses of spring 2020 revealed themselves again.
Letter 11 – Dear N,
February 8, 2024
Thus, your storytelling pulled off an amazing feat: It not only brought us together, but multiplied us.
lazy 0ch0 