Thank a Teacher!

Mary Ann

When the leaves begin to change and Thanksgiving nears, it is a good time to reflect on what we are thankful for – family, friends, health, pets, peace, freedom, safety, etc.  I think we can all look back on our schooling and remember a teacher or teachers who made a difference in our lives.  If you are reading this, that is a gift that a teacher gave to you. 

I have had a lifetime of excellent teachers.  At times, I did not always know how really good that they were.  Often, you take them for granted.  Not until later in life do you realize how lucky you were to experience that special person.

Mrs. Graham was my fourth-grade teacher, and she opened the world to her students over the years.  She would read to us right before dismissal every day.  We all loved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and couldn’t wait to hear of their next adventure.  She had full collections of the Old Mother West Wind series, the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys, and for a budding reader, it was pure treasure.  I read them all.  Mrs. Graham also introduced us to the countries of the world.  She would bring in Gouda cheese and Swiss Chocolates for us to sample.  I think she ignited my desire to travel.  I wanted to eat Gouda in the Netherlands!

Mrs. Driscoll was my fifth-grade teacher, and she had our class always working on projects. She would put up a blank bulletin board and let us create.  She would give us a theme about Christmas or Native Americans and just let us draw whatever we wanted and somehow it morphed into beautiful murals.  I modeled my own teaching on how she taught.  She made learning exciting. 

My brother and I had a unique experience in having our father teach us biology.  We were in a small school district, so everyone had my father for biology.  One year, my brother had regular biology, and I took advanced biology.  He had us both that year.  We rarely talked about his class keeping school and home separate.  We were expected to do exactly what everyone else did for biology – no breaks for us.  I am sure it was hard for him, and yet he never skipped a beat.  My brother and I love nature.   My father instilled that love in us.  He was our favorite teacher on so many levels.

When I began teaching, I wrote Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Driscoll and thanked them for all they did for me.  What I shared with you, I shared with them.  They called my mother crying.  They wanted my address and did write me back. 

 At this time of year when we remember what we are thankful for, it is a good time to thank that teacher who influenced your life.  It will make their day, maybe their year.  I occasionally get a thank you from a former student.  Those letters warmed my heart and touched my soul.