This is Why I Teach

My sister Jaime and her friend Lauren came in to my classroom this week to help me with an arts and craft project. The kids LOVED having them in the classroom and immediately swarmed the two of them.

I thought I would let my kids show off in front of the girls, so we played their favorite math game "Around the World". This is the game where two students are paired together and you show them an addition fact and whoever says the answer first gets to move on to the next person. The object is to get all the way around the room back to their seat. Well, I started in the back with one of my students. We've been using our doubles facts when we play. So, one of my boys that I've been struggling with this year hardly has moved from his seat. I showed him the first card and he beats the girl next to him. He then moves on to the next person and beats that person too. Then on to the next person, and so on and so on. This kid was on FIRE!!! His face was absolutely beaming! He was so proud of himself and I said, "Wow! You are doing a great job on your facts!!" His reply, "I've been practicing at home every night! I play the game by myself!"

So we continued to play the game and he kept advancing. The look on his face was...priceless. I had tears in my eyes because he was so proud of himself. I've never seen a kid so happy and excited that he was actually getting the problems right. Well, he made it all the way "Around the World".

As a teacher it is so exciting to have kids excited about what you're doing in the classroom. I never thought this student would work on his facts at home. He never has appeared excited about school, but yesterday it showed.

After the game was through and he made it back to his seat, he carried himself a little higher. He came in this morning with a totally different attitude and excited about the day. His first words to me this morning, "Are we going to play Around the World today again? I've been practicing!"

That is why I teach!