I Teach For...

As the students (who I affectionately call kiddos) left the classroom for the last time this past Thursday, I've been reflecting a lot on what/whom I teach for. Here are some of my thoughts below:

I teach for the students that feel alone.

I teach for the student in my classroom this summer that wrote that they felt like they are stupid and just wants to be like one of the smart kids.

I teach for the student in my class this summer that came off as somewhat rebellious and unengaged during the first week that ended as the student volunteering to read in class and sharing his work with others.

I teach for the student that in my classroom this summer that wrote how they had no friends, how they felt depressed and how they felt like no one understood them.

I teach for each and everyone of the parents that I talked with this summer that desperately want what is best for their children and want to do whatever is possible to help their children succeed.

I teach for the students that have been/are being bullied.

I teach for the parent that apologized to me over and over again in Spanish while I struggled to communicate (in Spanish) what a pleasure it was to have that student in the classroom.

I teach for my ELL students that are not given the attention and education that they deserve here in the state of Arizona.

I teach for the student in my classroom this summer that made such tremendous progress in their essay writing that it made me cry.

I teach for my students that don’t have a welcoming environment to go home to.

I teach for my students that are lost in the back of the classroom and never speak up to say that they don’t understand.

I teach for the student in my classroom this summer that sauntered into class every day but was the most engaged in finding literary devices in their favorite rap song.

I teach for the parents that never received a phone call from their child’s teacher before they failed both semesters of English.  

I teach for the uncertain future of my students.

I teach to fight back against the system that is failing my students.  

I teach for America.