Simple Significant Moments

At the end of one school year, a student made a card for me. In this note, he wrote several sweet ideas, but one sentence stood out to me the most. It read: “You are the only teacher I’ve had to say good morning to me every day.” As this student reflected on his fifth-grade year, the closure of his elementary school experience, this is what stood out to him. It made me pause. Greeting students every morning was natural for me, something that didn’t require a second thought. 

His note of recognition reminded me that, as teachers, perhaps we put more pressure on ourselves than is necessary. We often strive for the perfect lesson or organized lab stations. Perhaps we think to ourselves, If I just plan a little bit more, prepare another activity, or develop a brand new behavior system, maybe tomorrow will be better. And perhaps our preparations will bring about positive results. However, we may overlook the seemingly simple actions which demonstrate how much we care. Our daily practices of listening to stories, making eye contact, smiling as every student enters our space, laughing about the silly things, and showing empathy when challenges arise are just a few examples. These simple moments may be the most impactful memories, lasting a lifetime.

Taken from “Called to the Classroom: Daily Reflections for Educators” by Christina Meline