Dear Parent, From a Teacher: End-of-Year Reflections

I’ve been to quite a few graduations in my years. Each one is a little different, but it is usually centered around the same thing: The President, Dean, Principal, or Superintendent says the same thing for every school: “Good job. Thank you for your hard work. The world is your oyster. Oh, thank you, parents.” It is always the same: People walk across the stage. They turn their tassels. Caps go flying — the end.

The first known graduation ceremony was documented in the 12th century. You would think that after the last 825 years or so (give or take), something would stand out above the pomp and procession. There would be other words or feelings associated with graduation other than the typical, “Congrats, Grad!”

This weekend, I participated in graduation, not as a student or a guest, but as a teacher. It was beautiful to look out into the crowd and witness a sea of our school colors flood the arena. The thunderous applause and cheers echoed through the halls and out to the pavilion. The seniors walked in with smiles so big, a glimpse of hope for the future gleaming in their eyes, while parents and loved ones had tears streaming down their faces. It was a wonderful sight.

Our Superintendent did something unique and extremely surprising to me. He publicly recognized our hard work and dedication, not just to our position, but to our commitment to the students, to our community, and ultimately, the future. He asked the teachers and staff to stand up, to which the arena erupted in a rolling applause. The students looked up at us and smiled. They cheered for us, as well. In a world where teachers are often viewed as a means to an end, it felt nice to be recognized. More importantly, though, I took his words to heart and reflected on my first year as a teacher, when I taught all freshmen, which helped me come up with this list. I think parents need to know:

1. We look forward to seeing your kids every day (even on our bad days).
2. We work nonstop for your children (nights, weekends, spring and winter break, teacher planning and in-service days, even summer break).
3. We do think of them outside of school, and long after they’ve graduated.
4. Buy four new books each year. Encourage students to bring their books to school to read during downtime!
5. Teaching responsibility and accountability begins at home. Plant the seed, and we can help it grow.
6. Invest in a good planner for your child and teach them how to use it.
7. Please check your emails. Not all of them are boring or bad. Some emails may be about upcoming school events or praise for your child.
8. We want to work WITH you, not against you.
9. Your child’s success is our goal. It is essential to know that success is defined differently for every child. If your child wants to pass their state exams with a 5, that is a great benchmark for success. If your child aims for a 2 and their previous state score was a 1, that is also a great benchmark! It’s all about progress.
10. Speaking of progress — progress over perfection. When you tell your child you will “lose it” if they don’t pass a quiz or get a not-so-great grade on a test, please know that it puts a lot of additional pressure on them.
11. Celebrate the small victories. Turn an assignment in on time? Well done! Came to class with a pencil? Awesome! Finished your homework in class? Wahoo!
12. Your child is not always the angel you think they are.
13. Your child is not always the demon you think they are.
14. My job is to be a social worker, a nurse, a therapist, a mediator, a hype squad, a protector, and an educator all at once.
15. Don’t believe everything you hear about teachers.
16. We don’t believe everything we hear about parents.
17. If possible, come in and volunteer! Class or room parents are a big thing in elementary school, but why does it stop there? Middle and high school can be fun, too, and we can always use a set of extra hands.
18. I am human. I make mistakes. Thank you for not holding them against me. I assure you, I won’t hold your child’s outbursts against you.
19. We are teaching your child how to use the materials in the real world and how to navigate it.
20. Students need to experience boredom.
21. Please, please, please remind your students to put their phones away in class. “It’s giving Gollum from Lord of the Rings.”
22. Please, please, please remind your students not to use ChatGPT or AI in their work. We want original ideas, not what a computer says your child should think or feel.
23. We are not indoctrinating anyone. We know what to teach, when to teach it, and how to teach it. Plus, with 160+ students every day, it’s humorous that you think we have time to do that.
24. You are your child’s most outstanding advocate. If there is a concern, bring it to the teacher. We can’t fix something if we don’t know it’s broken.
25. We love your kids and can’t wait to see all they will accomplish in the future.

Graduation is a beautiful moment both for the student and their family. It is a time of celebration and fun. It is an opportunity to make waves in the world and a huge step forward into adulthood. It is a moment that should never be forgotten for the student and their family. It is certainly a moment the teachers don’t forget. We’ve had the honor and privilege to help your children learn where their weaknesses are. We are lucky to have borne witness to their strengths and grit as they’ve worked to become the people they were meant to be.

Our “Dear Parent, From a Teacher” series helps parents obtain the tools and insight to ensure a successful school year for their children. If you are a teacher who wishes to write a guest blog for this series, please email your topic to [email protected].