A little motivation... !

A couple weeks ago, I was asked to sub three days in a row for the math teacher in the junior high at the charter school. I was scared to death!!! I had six classes and each one was a different math level. I'm not exactly a math genius so I knew I was in over my head!

The first hour was Zach's math class. I enjoyed meeting his friends and being with him. His class was chaos but nothing too bad. Zach told me after class, "If you think this class was bad, wait until 4th hour." Fourth hour came and he was right! It was bad. One of the students had a tutor that sat with him. After class, the tutor, Dr. Banks, approached my desk. He asked me a little bit about myself. I told him I was a student studying elementary education. He asked me if I would like to work in a bank instead. I thought that was a random comment and asked him what he meant by that. He then proceeded to explain to me that he had been a high school teacher for years and was now currently a college professor. He explained that one year he had a young girl student-teach in his class room. She was in her final semester of getting a degree in secondary education. He said she was of petite build, soft spoken, and very kind to the students. He said that by the time she finished her student teaching, she had convinced herself that she was not meant to be a school teacher. She did graduate but shortly after that she took a job at a bank where petite, soft spoken, kind women should be.

His message to me was very clear. I'm not that easily deterred though. It was my first day and I am not planning to teach math after I graduate. As a sub I was definitely at a disadvantage but I still had two more days to go. I would prove him wrong!

The next day I was more prepared. Still not exactly what I had envisioned as a teacher but I was on the right track. Mr. Banks' comment to me as he left fourth hour was "Nothing like trial by fire!" Grrrr..!

The final day, I approached each class prepared, still kind to the students, but very much in control. After fourth hour, Mr. Banks approached my desk for a final time. He shook my hand and commended my efforts. He listed the classes he taught at the college and told me that if I was ever interested in taking any of those classes, he would be honored to have me in his class. He was fascinated with my problem solving abilities and thought I was very intelligent. He told me after 3 days of watching me teach, he still convinced that secondary education was not my forte but that I would make an excellent elementary teacher. He told me to stick with my goal and wished me the best of luck in the future.

Ha!!!! Mr. Banks, thank you for the motivation you gave me on that first day to prove you wrong!