Notable Quotes
"We are not here to fight in the war; we are here to make peace."
- Peggy Roach, Math Teacher at the Bronx Leadership Academy II
As teachers we are peacemakers. If I chose to fight back when my students misbehave or give me an attitude I would lose every time. Rather than engaging in their battles it is my job to remain calm in the eye of daily storms and find creative ways to meet them where they are at. This means being patient and having the same conversations repeatedly about self-control and respect. In many ways, I am learning how to become a human-diffuser for emotional whirlwinds and inner-chaos that have little or nothing to do with me as a teacher and more to do with what most of my students have experienced and/or are experiencing/dealing with in their daily lives.
"The kids who are hardest to love need love the most."
- Nancy Kirkpatrick
There are some students who seriously make me dread having to teach certain classes. Nancy reminded me that these are the students that need me the most.
The following lyrics are from the song "Pig" off of Dave Matthews' cd "Before These Crowded Streets." These lyrics hit me on my way home from work one day.
Love, love, love, what more is there?
'Cause we need the light of love in here
Don't beat your head
Dry your eyes
Let the love in there
There's bad times
But that's okay
Just look for love in it
Regardless of how much my students drive me crazy my job is to show them love.
- Peggy Roach, Math Teacher at the Bronx Leadership Academy II
As teachers we are peacemakers. If I chose to fight back when my students misbehave or give me an attitude I would lose every time. Rather than engaging in their battles it is my job to remain calm in the eye of daily storms and find creative ways to meet them where they are at. This means being patient and having the same conversations repeatedly about self-control and respect. In many ways, I am learning how to become a human-diffuser for emotional whirlwinds and inner-chaos that have little or nothing to do with me as a teacher and more to do with what most of my students have experienced and/or are experiencing/dealing with in their daily lives.
"The kids who are hardest to love need love the most."
- Nancy Kirkpatrick
There are some students who seriously make me dread having to teach certain classes. Nancy reminded me that these are the students that need me the most.
The following lyrics are from the song "Pig" off of Dave Matthews' cd "Before These Crowded Streets." These lyrics hit me on my way home from work one day.
Love, love, love, what more is there?
'Cause we need the light of love in here
Don't beat your head
Dry your eyes
Let the love in there
There's bad times
But that's okay
Just look for love in it
Regardless of how much my students drive me crazy my job is to show them love.