scribblechic

Sometimes we hide our potential behind excuses, creating a safe haven from failure. Unfortunately this also shields us from success. Recently there have been concerns between home and school that you are hiding your potential behind excuses, distorting your success and failure with avoidance.

Last night I included you in parent-teacher conferences wanting to permit you the experience of owning your performance as a student. Moving from teacher to teacher I uncovered unique pieces of your day at school. For every occasion I have questioned your place in mainstream, public education this experience shaped a new gratitude for the gifts of diversity. Each teacher greeted you in a way that spoke volumes about their teaching style and your relationship; our time together  a window into their classrooms.

Your Science teacher engages you and redirects you with humor and questions. She does this effortlessly, moving seamlessly between guiding and challenging. In turn you met questions with answers, matched humor for humor in a dance that tells me you are natural partners. You don’t know that your teacher is leading, in fact I would bet you feel quite in control as you move backwards and sideways in reaction to quiet instruction.

Your Math teacher is direct, you are evading her with arguments and requests that are impossible to avoid – working twice as hard to avoid tasks as you would have to work to succeed. I am certain you will soon be tired of dodging directions and nestle begrudgingly into routine expectations. I am a struggling math student, but well read in the mannerisms of your very experienced teacher.

Social Studies is a source of joy. I do not need to see your class work to know this. Your teacher exudes calm, quiet confidence in you as a student, enthusiasm for her subject, and joy for the act of teaching. You are learning as easily as you breath, unaware that despite your distractions you are drawn to your teacher’s peaceful approach. She is mothering you towards independence within her classroom, creating lessons that reach far outside your time together.

Your English teacher wears her heart on her sleeve. You are greedily gathering her compassion like a hungry child stuffing cookies in their pocket. This class is your greatest nemesis for the act of writing, but if you would only set aside this battle with yourself this outlet for creativity would easily be a place of growth. Your teacher is fascinated, your gift of language exists despite your denial, it is time to embrace this strength you do not claim.

World Cultures is a place of friendship. This is the teacher you approach as an equal. Perhaps this is because your teacher is a man and you share a friend in your former aide, but the casual greeting and easy handshake tells me he has earned your respect. It is time to honor that respect with effort, excuses contradict respect.

I am not sure you will read this until much later, but each of these individuals have gifted us a year of unique strengths. I have never been more excited for the challenges waiting for you in the classroom or for the lessons these experiences will lend you in your lifetime.

Love, Mom

Tagged: Education, Musings, Son