A Message for Discouraged Teachers

Let’s notice when things go right!

Cafeteria duty is nobody’s favorite. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s crowded, it’s chaotic. It can be impossible to tell whether student interactions are good-natured ribbing and when they’re about to escalate into food fight. My colleague David once told me, “If I’m ever diagnosed with a terminal illness, I’m going to ask to be put on lunch duty. Time slows down when your standing around watching hangry adolescents in the cafeteria.”

So, it was with some surprise last week when I noticed something unusual; the kids this year are pretty well-behaved during breakfast this year. I scanned the room. No screaming. No throwing. No puddles of peach juice on the floor. Just students eating in a reasonably pleasant, orderly environment.

I moseyed over to my cafeteria-watching-partner. “Check it out. The cafeteria is really calm this year.”

“Don’t say that out loud!” my friend told me. “You’ll jinx it!”

“Nope,” I replied. “I’m not superstitious. The kids are doing what we want them to do. Let’s acknowledge it and be grateful!

“On days when you might be feeling overwhelmed, look around and notice the good.”

So, that is my message to you for days when you might be feeling overwhelmed. Look around and notice the good. You went into teaching to invest in your students. No matter how bad things are going, there are for sure some students who enjoy your class, who do what you ask, who love learning from you. Stay after school to call and tell those families how great their kids are. The parents will be shocked, and you will float on their reaction for days. Let’s notice when our students do well, voice the positive, and take satisfaction when our investment pays off! Teaching is the best job in the world. Enjoy it!