I just had the most encouraging phone conversation. It really was the most motivating and encouraging moment in my short teaching experience. I always put off calling parents because I never really know what to say or how the parents are going to react. The conversations always seem to be just a little awkward. I decided though that I needed to call all of my students parents before the iLEAP (state test) that will be occurring all next week.

I was talking to the mother of a sweet little girl in my class. I asked her if she had any questions about the test and to let her know that I really appreciate her daughter’s hard work and the role model that she is in our classroom. To that she explained that her daughter has wonderful and strong women to be role models to her. Not only the women in her family, but also in me. How lucky her daughter and the other students in my class are to have a teacher who wants to make sure they really understand the material. Her daughter loves to be in my class and says that she can ask me if she needs help on anything. It is great for her to see her teacher work so hard and care so much. The mother was nothing but thankful and full of compliments. I get encouragement from my friends and family all the time so I don’t think I can explain to you why this particular conversation means so much to me or why there are tears rolling down my cheeks. I do know that if has the power to overshadow the daily “I hate this class”, “I wish I went to a different school” or “I shouldn’t have come to school today”.