Memoir Mondays Week 20

This week on Memoir Mondays, the questions are about teachers I've had in the past.  Even though I homeschool my own children, I grew up attending publich school.  My mother taught at the school that my sis and I went to from the time we were in 1st grade (There was no public kindergarten at school back then.) through 7th grade.  (Back then there was no middle school either.  1st-7th grade was elementary school, and 8th-12th grade was high school.)

On to this week's questions!

1. Do you remember the name of the teacher who had the biggest impact on you? Who was it? Tell something about that person and that time in your life.

Yes, I do!  The teacher who had the biggest impact on me was probably Mrs. Simpson.  She taught me in 1st grade--which was my first year of school since there was no kindergarten at the elementary school.  I think 1st grade teachers are so important because they are some of the first teachers who influence students and help them begin to develop good (or bad) attitudes toward school.  Mrs. Simpson was pretty tough--even on us 1st graders--but I liked her just fine.  She motivated me and made me do my best. 

She taught me again when I was in 7th grade.  (She moved from teaching 1st grade to teaching 7th grade the year that I entered 7th grade.)  In 7th grade, she was really tough!  She didn't put up with students goofing around and not doing their best!  Some of the students didn't like her, but most of the students who were willing to work and do a good job did. 

And then, when I was in college, I did my student teaching under her!  I guess she thought she'd never get rid of me!  She trusted me with lots of responsibility when I student taught in her class, and I learned a lot.  She observed when I taught, gave me pointers, and was very supportive.  It was really kind of strange to be back in her class again but to be treated as an adult instead of a child.  I'll never forget that! 


2. Do you remember having a teacher that had a negative impact on you? If so, what happened? How did you get past it?


The funny thing about this question is that, when I first read it, I didn't think about any of my own teachers as I was going through school.  I thought again about another teacher (not Mrs. Simpson) that I student taught under.  As part of my student teaching, I had to do a kindergarten practicum for 9 weeks.  I did not care to do it because I don't particularly like teaching that age.  I did, of course, enjoy teaching my own children when they were that age.  When it comes to teaching other people's children, though, I prefer to teach junior high kids.

Here's a little aside:   I know!  I know!  I'm weird.  Junior high kids are obnoxious.  Junior high kids are all taller than me.  Junior high kids think they know everything.  It's all true!  And ya know what?  I still love teaching that age!!  Perhaps it's the challenge that draws me.  Who knows?  I guess God made some of us willing to teach them so that everyone else didn't have to!!  So here's where you say, "Better you than me, Sister!" 

Back to my answer:  While I was doing my kindergarten practicum, I spent the entire 9 weeks with the same teacher.  She was young and seemed very nice when I talked with her on the phone before beginning my time in her class.  I figured I would enjoy teaching with her even if I wasn't really thrilled about being in a kindergarten classroom.  Boy, did I get a surprise when I actually got to her classroom! 

Let me just be blunt.  I hated it.  It was awful.  It was terrible.  It was traumatic.  (And not just for me.  It was traumatic for all the poor kids in her class!)  This teacher was very unkind to her students.  She was nice to a few kids who were really smart and who tried really hard to please her.  Besides those few kids though, she wasn't very nice to the rest of the kids.  There was one little boy in particular who had some learning problems and some behavior problems too, and she was just plain mean to him!!  The poor kid hid under his desk almost every day, and the principal had to come get him out.  No wonder.  I wanted to hide under there with him! 

I felt terribly sorry for those kids.  Truth is--I felt pretty sorry for myself too--having to spend 9 weeks with that teacher.  I don't even remember her name, but I sure remember how miserable she made school for those little kindergarten kids.  Some of them probably hated school for the rest of their lives because of her.

I usually try to be thankful when folks help me (such as when this teacher allowed me to be in her classroom for 9 weeks), but in this case, it was a struggle!  I wasn't very thankful for the opportunity except that it may have helped me learn what not to do in my own classroom.  I also try not to be too critical of folks who are trying to do their best.  Please forgive me, because I know I was very critical of this poor lady. 

I think teachers are so very important in the lives of the children they teach!!  For good or bad, we make a big difference!  I am once again so thankful to teach my own children at home.  I'm certainly not perfect, and I have really goofed up at times, but I do love my kids and want what's best for them.  And that means a lot when you're a teacher.

Thanks to April at Heartfelt Homeschooling for hosting this meme!  If you'd like to see more answers to this week's questions, you can visit her blog. 

Oh, and don't forget to leave me a comment about your favorite (or most memorable) teacher!  I'd love to hear what you have to say!