P. Kelly Smith
Welcome to Freebie Friday! As I was reading Jennifer’s post yesterday, it had me reflecting on all the great teachers I’ve had over the years. My mom likes to tell the story of how patient my kindergarten teacher was with me. Apparently I had a fear of my lunch box. Yes, I said lunch box. I guess my tiny fingers hadn’t quite figured out the mechanics of how this locked box magically opened for others, but not for me. (I guess we didn’t cover lunch boxes in preschool!) The first few days of kindergarten were a little traumatic, but after some gentle instruction from sweet Ms. Munie, I mastered the art of opening my lunch box while the rest of the class cheered me on.
Then came Ms. Dowell in third grade. She used to keep a candy dish on her desk filled to the rim with brightly colored Skittles. Every time we would “do well” in class (get it…her name was Ms. Do-well), we would get to pick out one Skittles candy from her tall dish. (I’m convinced she refilled that thing every day because it never seemed to disappear!) I would always pick red (strawberry) and happily munched on it all the way back to my desk. To this day, whenever I open a bag of Skittles, I always reach for the red ones first and I think to myself, “You deserve this. You did something well today.”
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, I’m gearing up for my cousin’s high school graduation next week. I’d love to make her a card that not only recognizes her achievement, but also leaves her feeling hopeful about her future. As I was flipping through our May/June issue, I came to a stop on p. 74. Maren Benedict’s Over the Rainbow Card and Kim Kesti’s Colorful Imagination Card immediately jumped out at me. These two cards so perfectly complement each other. Both have black bases, both are dripping in every of color of the rainbow and both remind me of Ms. Dowell’s shiny jar of Skittles!
These bright cards are perfect for a new grad or an inspirational teacher.
So to pay tribute to my favorite teacher and my favorite color of Skittles, I’m giving away this red-as-a-schoolhouse prize package to two lucky winners! Leave a comment telling me the name of your favorite teacher and why she/he was so inspirational. All comments must be received by midnight on Sunday, May 24. The winners will be announced on Monday’s blog.
Thanks to Stampin' Up!, American Crafts, Making Memories and Heidi Grace for this red hot prize package!
Here’s to teachers! May you inspire your students to always ”do well!”
Kelly
My third grade teacher was my favorite. I moved away later that year, and when I got to the new school, this teacher accepted me with open arms.
One of my favorite teachers was Ms. Latham – my ninth grade history teacher. She just had a passion for teaching – and life. She always had great stories and fun props to help her teach. She passed away my senior year after battling breast cancer. I will always remember (and love) history because of her!
My favorite teacher was my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Hakala. She made learning so fun with hands on centers. I was in her class in 1976 (the bicentennial) and I loved how she made it a fun learning experience. We dressed up as colonial day people and had a parade. I also loved how she read to us every day after lunch and it incorporated a love for books. She is the reason I became a teacher.
Mrs. DellArco was my 8th grade teacher. I can recite things like the Emancipation Proclamation, the Preamble to the Constituation, and lines from “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe still to this day because of her. That, and my grammar and spelling still get by due to the fundamentals that she taught. I don’t think I liked her much at the age of 13 but I thank her now!
The teacher who had the most positive impact on me was my 11th grade math teacher, Miss Fanny Hall. This was in the 60′s and she was called an old Maid, aloof, and not talkative. At the end of my June year, she ask me to be her teacher’s aide the next year. Since I wanted to be a teacher, I said yes. It was only for one period.
Miss Fanny taught me grace and to treat ever student with grace and diginity as I do not know much about them but I do know what type of person I want to be. She taught me much more but the important thing is she made me a better person.
When I went to college, I wrote her every week. When she died I went to her funeral to honor such a women who walked through life with such humility.
debbie peysen
My all time favorite teacher was Mr. Gerber….he called me “Red” because of my red hair and honestly, I don’t think he ever knew my real name….he would even write “Red” on my hall passes! I was academically too far advanced in 6th grade and never had work to do after October; I also don’t think he knew WHAT to do with me, so he would give me jobs, including tutoring other students, running errands, collating papers, anything he could think of. Unfortunately, my family moved the week before 6th grade ended….I was so sad I never got to say goodbye and thanks to him for being a great inspiration to me! As an educator, I’ve never forgotten his gentleness, curiosity rousing lessons on lightning rods and his ready laugh at the humor of his 6th graders!
Thanks for the chance to relive it!
Kim Marie
It is hard to pick my favorite teacher…I loved them all! Really I did. Thinking back I can say that I honestly enjoyed all of my teachers from kindergarten until I graduated. I went to a small school so once I hit junior high we had the same teachers every couple of years. I have a great fondness for my guidance counselor, Debbie Beaumont as well. She helped me so much during my parents divorce and always helped me until the day I graduated. My Social Studies teacher, Mr. Eakins was super great and cute! He looked like Matthew Perry and let me tell ya I never missed a class. He was a great teacher and really cared about us too. Thanks for taking me down memory lane for this great give away.
i had some really good teachers through school (as well as some really bad ones) but i cant really remember any names. i remember my 9th grade geology teacher was great, she gave me all the extra help that i needed and is the only reason i passed that class.
I had two fav teachers–in elementary school, Mrs. Moss was terrific! She was very positive and tried to make everything fun! As a senior, I was grateful to have Mr. Bilden for English–because of him, I didn’t have to take freshman English in college! He was a sort of quiet gentleman, but spent one on one time with each student, giving suggestions for our papers, how to improve it etc. With many teachers in our area getting laid off because of the poor economy, it makes me sad, the time teachers put into teaching me helped make me a successful adult today.
My favorite teacher was Ms. Noralee Cox, who taught me algebra, geometry and BC Calculcus. She taught me how much fun mathematics can be, and was also a wonderful role model as a strong, confident woman. She inspired me to eventually become a math teacher as well!
~Meredith
a.k.a. Crafty Math Chick
My favorite teacher is right now, I work for a Special Ed. teacher. Her name is Mrs. Stefankiewicz. And she is great with the kids. It is high school and she not only teaches them book work but also life lessons. She is so inspirational. I also love my son’s 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Brown. She a little strict and expects the best work from the kids, but she is also nuturing. Jenny M
first I have to say thanks – thanks that RED is your favorite color of skittles!!!
My favorite teacher was my 10th grade history teacher, Mr. Carlson. He was hard on me, and always CAUGHT me when I skipped class – but for that I’m grateful! He didn’t let me get away with anything and for that I earned a B in his class all year!
This is so hard to pick just one! I have a lot of teachers who have helped shape me through my school years.
I think I would pick Mrs. Phillips – the elem. school art teacher. Although, I didn’t really continue my art studies in high school, I really enjoyed the projects she had us do. Even 15+ years later, I can remember the projects we did and can redo them with my kids now.
Definitely my English teacher. He gave me a love of words and literature and made class fun.
Doc Beaton was my favorite teacher. He made learning Latin fun even though it was a dead language!
My high school physics teacher, Mr Walters, was my favourite teacher. He didn’t play favourites and was really tough, but fair.
My favorite teacher would have to be my Business Consumer Teacher Mr. Jones. He was the greatest teacher ever. Every Friday he would let the class pick a topic we would like to discuss, for example we could talk about our friends or family or anything we felt like talking about. It was so much fun and I got to learn a lot about my class mates. In a way it was like therapy for me, I knew every Friday me and my class mates would be able to talk about anything that was going on in our lives.
I think the teacher that I am most thankful for us Mrs. Kusterer (Mrs. K). She was my choir teacher in middle & high school and taught me that I had a voice and how to use it!!! Performing with the group (and solos as well) gave me much needed confidence!
I can’t remember my 4th grade history teachers name, but her phrase stickes to me to this day “fly me to the moon” she would say that when someone was talking while she taught. I loved her way of teaching.
I am a teacher today because of my elementary PE teacher!! She loved her job and we loved her — she still works at that same elementary school today and is probably still inspiring new teachers daily!!
My favorite teacher was my second grade teacher Mrs. Westerfield. She was so sweet, patient and loving, all the kids loved her.
I had a teacher so special that I really thought she was my own grandma in disguise…her name was Mrs. Hiraga and she must have used the same perfume that my grandma did, and I know her hands looked like my grandma’s did…oh yeah, the wedding ring – a big stone was the same too! LOL She really took very good care of me in 1st grade…always looking out for me and making sure that I got to go ‘first’ because I was always the shyest kid in class.
Since I was homeschooled my favorite teachers were my parents. They always helped me and pushed me a little farther so I could improve myself.
Ms. Olsen (my first and second grade teacher) and Tom Ratten (my developmental psych prof). Both of them were amazing people who cared only about inspiring their students to learn.
(I love the red Skittle best, too!)
My favorite teacher was Natalie Jones. She was my Biology teacher in high school. She was so awesome. She made life so exciting. But the best thing that happened is that she led me to the Lord. Not while I was in high school. That is where she planted the seeds. Years later, I showed up and told her I had given my life to the Lord. She was soooooo thrilled.
I would have to say that Mrs Neuman, my grade 4 teacher was the most inspirational teacher that I had. I was a very self conscious young girl back then, and she just had this special way to make me feel special and smart. Was totally my best year ever!
Mrs Worobey is my favorite teacher. She is actually a college professor and has given me so many opportunities and taught me so much about how to be a teacher myself. I hope one day a child will think of me as their favorite teacher (once i finish my degree).
My favorite teacher was my high school calligraphy teacher. I got nothing but “A”‘s in his class and he used to put sweet comments on my papers.
My favorite teacher was my mom. She was not only my first teacher at home, she was also my kindergarten teacher. I couldn’t figure out why all the other kids were having such a hard time when they were getting dropped off that first day of school! Next to her, would be Mrs. Page who was so sweet and made us all feel very special.
My favorite teacher was my band director in high school, Mr. Hodge. He taught us to always strive for excellence and that we were capable of much more than we could ever imagine. He taught me not only technique but a true love of music. I will be forever grateful.
my favourite teacher was my grade 6 teacher miss vanderheiden. She was just so cool, she had us call her Miss V and had a hedgehog, and when you’re 12 thats pretty awesome. Thats when i started wanting to be a teacher.
Carole Lewis was my 4th grade teacher, and then again in 5th grade. She always made school fun, no matter what it was we were learning!
My fav. teacher was my grade 4/5 teacher Mr. Harvey. He taught us to believe in ourselves no matter what and too keep on trying to reach our goals. He gave me confidence and made me want to go to school each and every day. He was wonderful and I will never forget him.
Paola
I have to say mymath teacher in 10th grade, he really did help me figure outmath in a way that i could understand it!I will always be very thankfull to him.
I loved school, so it was genuinely hard to pick a favorite! I remember my third grade teacher, Mrs. Nichols, being so funny and animated. I was so shy and desparately wanted to be like her. And man, could she read with expression, I was transported inside of the story as she read it! I got much joy out of all of my band classes, music was wonderful. My favorite teacher of all, would have to be Dr. Dore! He had a Ph.D. and taught high school. I had him for AP History and Psychology. He gave us nicknames and genuinely cared about us. He knew what was going on in our lives! I think because he cared and the subject was so interesting, I went on to get my Masters Degree in counseling to give back what he gave to me! Of course, I spent my first 10 years out of the gate in a community mental health facility and now, I landed in school again! I work at an elementary school as an intervention specialist, helping kids who are in trouble or have behavior problems. Thanks for the chance to reflect on that!
My favorite teacher was Mrs Ruby! She was my first grade teacher and I just loved her! She was so much fun! 28 years later I still keep in touch with her! She is a close family friend!
I guess, I have been blessed with many wonderful teachers from 5th grade to my professors of today. What really made them specially to me was that they did more than just teach what’s on the schedule…. that they always had some special words for us when in need… that they personally involved in our failures and sucesses… that even today when I stumble across one of them, they recall my name and some of our classes stories… Thank you, teachers!
I’m awful with names, and even though he was my favourite teacher, I can’t remember it. But I remember him clearly. He was my social studies/drama teacher. He was always cheerful, positive. He had a way of connecting with his students. He always encouraged me. He was the best teacher I ever had!
My favorite teacher was probably Mrs. Hayes. She taught shorthand and typing in 11th and 12th grade. She stood by me and believed in me, and helped me get my first job. She really was an inspiration!
My favorite teacher was Mrs. Artery in middle school. I was in her drama class and was the ONLY girl. Needless to say I was a little outnumbered and she helped me suceed anyway
Mrs. Porter was inspirational to me. I loved to read and she knew it so she always found new books for me. She inspired me to become a teacher.
My favorite teacher was Mr. Mann, my drafting teacher in high school. I think he taught us more about common sense and life-skills than he did about drafting, but he was awesome at that too!
I loved school, but not all of my teachers. But they all taught me something and for that I am grateful. One teacher that sticks out though was my Sociology teacher in high school. He taught me that lilfe is what You make of it. That it was up to You to make a difference in the world around You. I was lucky to have known him and his family to this day.
my anatomy teacher mr Tillema always said PMA…positive mental attitude. bad things can happen, but you choose the attitude in which you deal with it…he was awesome…we dissected pigs and i got to see open heart surgery!
My favorite teacher was a nun in grade school – Sr. Diana – she was young, had a lot of attitude, didn’t take any crap from anyone and was fair and funny…I learned a lot from her in a lot of ways
Oooh, great post, as a teacher I really enjoyed reading through all the comments! I had so many great teachers growing up, but my favorite was probably my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Quigley. She made everything so fun, you could always tell she loved being there and teaching us. She also happened to be a neighbor, and my best friend and I would hang around her house all the time, and she never seemed to mind, amazing!
I enjoyed reading the comments so far…many of them moved me to tears! When I was in elementary school I never realized the impact they can truly have on one’s life. I am a mommy now – and I look back on many wonderful teachers that I have had…I absolutely loved Mrs. Silesky (I sure hope I am spelling that right). I had her for 2nd & 3rd grade. She was so cheery & nice!
Mr. Stevens–who is Dr. Stevens now. He was my HS Choral Teacher—he taught me so much about music, but more than that, he believed in me—he loved me (and all of us) like his own child. He spent HOURS with us outside of class and nurtured a sense of dignity in us all. I am doing what I do (teaching music) because of him—
The teacher I remember most from elementary was my first grade teacher. She had the longest hair I had ever seen in my life. I was mesmerized by it. But my FAVORITE teacher was in high school…Mrs Hayes. She had spunk, drive and she made high school fun. She was there for me at every turn. Loved her!
Your lunchbox story reminds me of my daughter this year. She has been terrified of buying lunch. She doesn’t like to do anything new. She is ten and this was her first year to buy. Her whole class cheered her on as she nervously went through the lunch line. What an awesome class. No one made fun of her. They just encouraged her. Now she buys lunch everyday.
Gosh, that’s a pretty difficult question to answer, but I think Miss Brown, my sophomore Geometry teacher really made an impact with me. She was so patient with me and always had faith that I could master Proofs. She never made me feel as though I couldn’t reach her expectations. And, what was truly remarkable about her was all that she had achieved… she was an amazing teacher and also had what seemed to be a mild form of Cerebral palsy… that was never a hindrance in her abilities as a teacher nor as a person. I commend her on all levels! Thank you, Miss Brown!