The Look of Success

Today was the day I got to be with students for the first time.

Now, I've been doing lunch duty, which is a bit like an obstacle course of kid's jokes and practical jokes and  "tag you're it" kind of games.  This is all well and good, but I don't really get to teach much.  Except to educate one young man on the finer points of getting people to fall for the "Look!  Behind you!"  Seriously, people won't by it if you have an ear-to-ear grin.

Despite my lesser education at lunch duty, I am still getting to teach kids math.  Today was simply assessment stuff.  I'd ask questions and they'd answer.  Simple back and forth.  But I found myself often on the edge of my seat, in anticipation of a right answer.  I'd actually get excited to see if they got it right- I WANTED them to get it right for the simple sight of seeing their joy at getting praise.  And when they got it wrong, I'd still try to encourage them, but I think my disappointment was bigger than theirs.  Because I wanted them to succeed.  After one day, I want more than anything to see these students succeed.

I'm hoping that is the stuff that makes good teachers, this hope and passion to see success in the unsuccessful.  I'm hoping my excitement at a kid counting the right number of dots never fades as long as this is my job.

Last week, I began the process of getting certified to teach.  It most likely will not be in math, but I want to bring the same feeling, the same motivation to whatever I get certified in.  Because for the first time in my life, in a job outside of the ministry, I know what I want out of it.

And it has very little to do with me, and everything to do with the look on the face of a student who got it right.