A Sweet Surprise

I met my cousin for an early dinner at the local bread company Friday afternoon.  The young manager behind the counter greeted us enthusiastically as we approached. I gave him a second glance and realized that I knew him!  That was why we got the enthusiastic greeting.  He is one of my former students.  He came around and gave me a hug and we had some small talk before I ordered my dinner.

It makes me proud to see my students doing well.

Before I left to go home, I stopped back at the counter to pick up a couple of muffins for the weekend and gave my order to the girl behind the counter.  The manager, my former student, happened to walk back to that area and he told the gal-- "She was my 5th grade teacher!"  

Mercy!  I feel old.  But I also feel proud.


Have you had a chance run-in with a former student or former teacher?    

Snicker Sundae

For Teacher Appreciation last spring one of my students brought me this treat - a snicker sundae.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was so sweet!  Literally!

Teachers Make a Difference

Calling from Hawaii

I received a phone call this afternoon as my class was preparing to dismiss for the day.  It is not unusual to get a call at this time.  Someone may be leaving in a different way, someone may have to leave a little early, there is always something the office needs to let me know.

But today's phone call was different.  It was my Korean student who left last week!  Her family decided to return to Korea via a side trip to Hawaii.  Miss Pink Glasses was calling me from Honolulu to say hello.  She misses us.  She misses me.  And I miss her.  She told me that she spent the last couple of days at Waikiki Beach. She told me it was beautiful there and it was warm.   I told her here it had snowed earlier in the morning.    Her family is leaving tomorrow to make the last leg of their trip to Korea.

It was so nice to hear from her.  I hope she will transition well back to her Korean life when she gets home. 

Miss Pink Glasses will always be in my heart.

Building a Relationship

I have a new student that has been with me less than two weeks and we are still in the stage of getting to know each other.  We are building a relationship so that he will trust me and know that I have his best interests at heart.  In turn, I want to know that he will give his best effort for me when I ask him to do something that may or may not be difficult for him.

This past week I was wearing a necklace that had a cross on it.  My new friend came up to me and asked me if I were a Christian.   I told him that I was and watched his face to see if he had any other questions.  He stayed near me with a pondering look on his face.  So, I asked him if he was one.  He replied, " I dunno.  Sometimes. " 

Another piece of the puzzle to help me know him.  Do I know what it means?  Not really.  But it is a piece that will help me understand him and reach him.