warriorpen

On Friday I said goodbye to teaching for the second time. I will be teaching part time with another organization, but won’t be coming out of graduate school to return to this life full-time. I have given myself as a teacher for more years than I have ever thought I would have dedicated to anything other than writing.

I’ve countless stories and memories of students from all walks of life and all ages. I have nurtured a third grader, a year and a half behind the rest of the class. He was also a year and a half older but he caught up to the others. I remember the fourth grader who seemed to have so much trouble building words (he had trouble with sound symbol association). His real talent would emerge a few years later in my husband’s art class. He produced the best ceramic art at the end of the year showcase of grades 1-8. In my work with adult students, my favorite student will graduate from the College of New Rochelle next May with her Bachelors in Education. This year, a most troubled student in a welfare to work program passed her GED exam and went on to fulfill her goal of entering a medical assistant training.

During my year experience of teaching in a Welfare to Work Program that implement “GED” classes into their programs are for many students, just an introduction to the possibility of completing a secondary education. For those who caught the education bug I had a list of referrals from the City University system to the Department of Education to the New York Public Library adult education programs. Sometimes at the end of the class, I would allow students to use the phone to make appointments to apply to other adult literacy programs.

For every success story there were at least 3 students per class who had no business in the classroom. Those students were often easy to spot. Whenever I got a student who consistently arrived at 9:20 or 9:30, I knew they wouldn’t make it. Class begins at 9:00 AM. Every week the subway is the reason for being late. Every week. The other type of student that wastes time is the one who arrives without homework. Those students I just sent home. I explained, if you were a construction worker and you arrived without your tools you, do you think you would be getting paid for the day? A student’s tools are their homework, a notebook and something to write with. How many times can you come to class and ask the person next to you for a pen?

During my last week of classes, I got hugs from students and lots of “I wish you weren’t leaving” and “I know I’m not going to find another teacher like you.” When I got back to the main office to complete the attendance rooster and tie up any loose ends, there was a conference room full of people with a cake and best wishes. I was even given a leather bound journal as a gift.

Two years ago I left a directors job in this same field, in search of a writing career full time. I wrote everyday.

I am ready to push myself as hard as I have pushed my students to set goals and expectations.