Yesterday, life showed me two wonderful sides of how awesome teaching and learning are. It reminded me of a song from my high school days….”Both Sides Now” by Judy Collins. Don’t worry, I won’t sing the verse of one of my favorite songs.  In the morning, I met with my daughter, who is an enthusiastic first year high school English teacher. She was in the middle of grading her 9th grade mid-term exams.  She shared in great detail the reasoning behind each carefully and thoughtfully constructed question…including some in-depth essay questions that allowed for her students to reflect on the material assigned since September in meaningful and creative ways. She shared her hopes and concerns for each of her students, both academically and emotionally.  Her passion for the students outweighed the content.  I was listening to what she was saying…no so much about the rubric used or the final grade affixed to the top.  I heard her rooting for her kids…relieved when they had learned the material…and challenging her own teaching strategies as she saw ways in which she might improve her instruction.  The students were front and center…and it amazed me that she “knew” their personal stories in such a short few months.    They may have studied “memoirs”…..but she had asked them to then reflect and write their own.  Their personal stories and poems filled the classroom.  Trust between BOTH Sides is forming….How rewarding for me to have been the captive person at the table.

At noon, I had the opportunity to meet for lunch with a 9th grade student- she had the day off because she had just completed her very first mid-term exams in another school district.  I heard what it felt like…how her English mid-term was constructed, strategies she had used in her preparation for the exam  and how she thought she had done on it.  Following that, she told me it really didn’t matter that much…she had done her very best.  She was prepared and had worked as hard as she thought she could have.  Also, she just loves her English teacher.

“Why?” I asked….

“Because she makes it so much fun and has us read materials that I would never choose.  I just love going into that room every day.  She always has something going on!”

So, the important take-away for me? What matters most is that teachers continue to trust that when they make it their mission connect with each student every day…it is amazing how Both Sides will grow in their personal learning and trust of others within the community. What a day…..

Jan