World Teachers’ Day is coming up on October 5, and teachers are working harder this year than ever before! As a former teacher, I can picture the stressed-out mess I would be if I were still teaching today. So I’m going to suggest (even though you might be a stressed-out mess, too), that you thank your child’s teacher(s) with a book. Yes, cute handmade gifts are lovely! But there’s only so much shelf and desk space, y’know? But if you give a teacher a book they can use with their students (and that they don’t have to buy themselves), your fabulous gift keeps giving for years.
Here’s a poem from my poetry book for teachers. I hope you’ll think about all that teachers are trying to give your kids during these really shifting and difficult times. And if you don’t have the funds for a book, a heartfelt note of thanks will be appreciated, too!
[My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom topic–often something timely that you might be covering in the next month or so. Please share this post if you have educator friends who might be interested–thanks!]
Laura, I love how you weave metaphors all through this poem. I’ve never come across your Heart of a Teacher poetry book before. I also feel for the added stress that this year teachers are going through. I haven’t been back to substitute teaching yet because I have asthma, which makes it so difficult to breathe in mask and makes me more susceptible to getting COVID-19. I miss students so much! I’m sorry I missed your online talk with poet Joyce Sidman, who’s books I adore. Thank you.