How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

A while ago, when my own children were in grade school I made the expected visits to the teachers during parent conferences. One unforgettable visit ended by the teachers—my son was in a multi-age group IGE—agreeing that there was nothing positive they could say about him. “How about something nice, then,?” I pleaded. Nope, these very new teachers couldn’t come up with “nice” either. That really hurt a lot.
Much of my own attitude toward my fourth-grade students hinges from that one incident. All I wanted of his teachers was to know that they liked him. It was a lightbulb moment when I realized that liking my child, or any child for that matter, is the most important and basic thing a parent could want from a teacher. Because of that one moment, I vowed to see the beauty, the essential sweetness and promise of children in my care. Sometimes it’s quite a stretch. But never have I failed to try. I make sure to tell my parents in our one-on-ones that I really like their child. Then I get in any “corrective feedback” that needs to be said…and of course, the positive things about their child. I find too that by saying that I like their child, I really do feel it. I remember only too well that in back of each little person is a very proud, protective parent. Or there should be. Oh, yes…my son went on to become president of his class all 4 years of high school. He loves school, is always learning, holds 2 Masters Degrees, and reads the classics every night to his three small children. I wish that for any and all parents—even for those teachers