Busy (and hot!) Teachers!

My daughter, Leslie, is a school psychologist. Even though she is not a classroom teacher, her schedule loosely follows the public school calendar. I say “loosely” because she has already gone back to work this week, even though it is still July. In Texas, teachers go back next week, which is just the first week in August. That’s crazy early to me!

Having been a public school teacher for many years, I know exactly what this means! Do you? Well, let me fill you in.

First, just know that every teacher has already been in her very hot classroom for at least two weeks, most likely longer than that. (The younger the teacher, the more weeks she’s been working!). You see, school district administrations don’t usually turn on the master switch for air conditioning until a week before school begins.

Teachers — Long Hours and Hard Work

Since that first week back for teachers is filled with meetings and in-service trainings, teachers know they won’t have enough time to get their rooms ready if they waited until that week. Their only option is to face the heat, so they bring in box fans, lots of water bottles, and wear shorts and tank tops to stay cool. They work from early morning until long after dark, unpacking boxes of textbooks and materials, arranging and rearranging desks, planning for the most conducive setting for instruction and group interaction, while at the same time making the environment comfortable and welcoming to every student. Most of them even add homemade curtains to the bare windows. Teachers of younger students also make cute, inviting reading areas on the floor.

Next they design and make bulletin boards to welcome students into their “home away from home” for the next nine months. They laminate and laminate and laminate the many posters, signs, and cute pictures with which they will cover their walls, bulletin boards and doors. Did I mention that AFTER all that laminating, they have to cut out each piece?  I still remember cutting until my fingers ached!

Teachers Really Are Excited About School Starting!

In addition to preparing their classrooms, teachers also are working on lesson plans for the first week or two of school. They know that those are the most important weeks of the year when friendships are formed, and expectations are made. They plan get-acquainted activities to help every student feel welcomed and accepted as a part of this new classroom “family.”

You would think these teachers would be worn out, miserable, and grumpy (especially Texas teachers who have been working in 100+ temperatures for weeks).  Yes, they are worn out, but you couldn’t tell if you walked into their unfinished classrooms. In addition to all kinds of music playing, there are hugs and laughter everywhere as they greet their friends they have missed over the summer.

Believe me, teachers are excited to start a new year with your child in their classroom. And just like your child, they are a bit anxious about the year ahead. More than anything they want your child to succeed, grow, and be happy.

What You Can Do for Your Child’s Teacher

So, my dear one, as you are getting ready to release your child into the care of a “stranger,” I ask you one thing – please pray for your child’s teacher. If you need some ideas, check out this site: https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/family/first_day_of_school_prayer.html/

Oh, and one more thing, decide now that you are going to partner with the teacher to help your child to have a great school year. That means to let the teacher know that you support them and trust them (that includes NEVER talking negatively about them in front of your child.) Be willing to help them out any way you can. Please.

By the way, when your child gets home from school, put your phone down! Ask them about their day. Be excited, supportive, and encouraging. They need to know that school is as important to you as it is to them.

Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding, most exhausting, and most difficult jobs in the world. But what would we do without them?

My Prayer:

Thank you, Father, for teachers. Put your loving arms around them, and give them extra energy and patience every day. Help their students to come to school with open hearts and open minds, ready to do their best every day.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.