Dear Favorite Teachers,
I know I’ve been out of high school for some time now, but it’s only in the recent past that I realized what an impact you made on me at some point during my four years of high school. Being an education major and future teacher myself, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it is exactly that makes a great teacher great. This semester, I had a professor who asked my class to think of the best teachers we have ever had, and all of you immediately came to mind, bringing a smile to my face. I’d always known you were great, but it wasn’t until now that I realized what exactly you did to be great.
Thank you for always pushing me to do better. Your classes were not always easy and there were times that I regretted my choice to take them, but at the end of the day, the challenge was good for me. You knew when I could improve and were not afraid to tell me. This helped to prepare me for college and made me realize how capable I truly am.
Thank you for your endless creativity and passion. Even the most inherently dry subject matter in the world (i.e., the branches of US government or chemical bonds) can come to life when a teacher truly cares about it. I can honestly say I really retained what I learned in your classes, and that is due to the fact that you taught it in such an interesting way and let your excitement for the material shine through. This made me excited to learn and motivated me to actually do all the work (most of the time).
Thank you for your dedication to us and to the material. Even though your classes were difficult at times, I always knew you wanted all of your students to succeed. It was clear that you cared about each one of us and that you worked tirelessly to push us, engage us, and grade all our papers (which I’m sure was not always the ideal way to spend a Sunday afternoon). Only the best teachers show this amount of support and dedication.
Thank you for your energy and humor. We worked hard in your class and sometimes the material was confusing or hard to understand. These were the times when I appreciated your energy and jokes. They kept me engaged and even laughing at material that definitely wasn’t that funny to begin with.
Thank you for inspiring me. As I head into my student teaching this coming fall, I think constantly about all the responsibility that comes with being an effective teacher. Sometimes I’m afraid that I won’t be able to connect with my students or find creative ways for them to access the material. But when I look back on my own high school years, I remember how much of an impact you all had on me, and all your unique traits that made you all outstanding teachers. Thinking about all of that makes me to want to have that same impact on my students, and pushes me to be the best teacher I can possibly be.
Sincerely,
Your grateful student