If you want others to be happy, practice compassion...
I'm a little behind in grading and just got to the bellwork from two weeks ago. For Friday, I asked the kids to write me a letter; I gave them requirements etc and let them write anything they wanted to me. Most letters I got were along these lines:
Dear Mrs. Z,
I think on early release days we should have pizza instead of of corn dogs becaus corn dogs are very very very very very very very very disleuting.
Sincerely, Blake
If you couldn't tell, disleuting is actually disgusting. Most of letters were homework or the food in the cafeteria (which could be better, but it's not that bad). I get the feeling Blake really doesn't much care for the corn dogs at school. It's kind of funny though, because he brings his lunch most days. Of the two classes and approximately 24 students I gave these prompts to, I only got back one letter that tugged at me: Isaac. I have a student who is just a complete doll; really cute, short (hasn't hit his growth spurt), funny, actually make that hilarious, and just overall a really good student. School is very difficult for him and his home-life isn't the best. I want to just take him in and help him out. He's got a neighbor who basically takes care of him, but she is very cynical, old school, and negative. I get that she's older and such, but I mean the kid is 12/13 years old; make it fun and he will do his school work.
He also gets teased by his friends a lot; "little boy", "boots", etc. I don't know how much is actually play and how much really kind of hurts his feelings, but the one letter I got back that meant something real was from a close friend of Anibal's. Anyway, Anibal does not want to go to school anymore. He doesn't want to disappoint his dad with bad grades. I think he's also tired of the "joking" his friends do but doesn't want rat them out.
I want to changed cactus because everybody is being bullied and picking on others and I want to changed the school to make a better place and be good and do all your work.
Sincerely,
Isaac Lastname
Isaac is a very deep kid and obviously has been listening to his peers. I was touched when I read his letter. He took a very adult angle, especially because he is not the one being bullied. Lily Tomlin said, "I like a teacher who gives you something to think besides homework.", in this case, it's my students.