Here we are again! I’ve missed writing here, and I have missed writing to all of you! I hope that self isolation is becoming a little more normal for everyone reading this. I know for me, it’s been a lot of ups and downs. However, I can say that I am starting to get into the swing of online schooling and being at home (for the most part). Although online school was more of an alien than anything to me at the beginning, I’ve learned some meaningful skills throughout the course of this experience. I promise this blog post isn’t about COVID 19, I won’t make you read anymore about that, considering that you’re probably seeing it everywhere else you look nowadays. Today, I’m talking about emails.
In one of my recent assignments, my peers and I were asked to create a portfolio of various emails that we will one day, as educators, have to send and reply with often. This assignment was strange to me at first, seeing that I had never been asked to write mock emails before in my educational career. However, once I got the hang of it, I realized how meaningful and useful this assignment will be in the future. One particular mock email that we have been asked to write is one to a student who has, you probably guessed it, been almost failing all semester but in the last week of classes, wants some redemption to raise their grade. Out of all the emails that we have written, I found this one to be the hardest to write.
Essentially, when looking through the lens of an educator, there is no possible way for a student to raise their grade that quickly without some sort of special accommodations, ones that teachers are faced with picking and choosing often. As you can imagine, picking and choosing to help certain students versus others is unfair to the entire class, so naturally if a student sends an email with similar requests, as a teacher, you have to explain that this won’t be happening. Although I wrote a concise and clear email stating that by giving a student extra credit to help boost their grade it would be unfair and unjust to the rest of their class, and noting what resources there are to use in the future; I found this email to be the one I struggled most with because I was this student.
In high school specifically, I wasn’t the best student in all of my classes. Specifically science and math, I was always the student begging my teachers for extra credit or more help because I knew that I couldn’t fail my classes. Although I never received any sort of special treatment from my numerous plea attempts, I was still a struggling student who even began failing classes. As much as I don’t want to make excuses for my past behavior, I will note that I was struggling with a lot more than just my school work outside of the classroom. Just like any other teenager, I had a lot going on at home that made my motivation for school drop significantly. I’m not making excuses for myself but I will say this, looking back, I understand. My heart goes out for the 16 year old version of me that was putting all of her efforts into just waking up in the morning and getting to school in the first place.
That being said, writing the email that I received time and time again put a strain on my heart. Although teachers can’t play favorites with their students and grant extra resources to some and not others, I think it is so beyond important for teachers to also look at the greater picture and see some of the other outside pieces that are affecting their students’ lives. I’m not a teacher, not yet at least, so I can’t say with certainty, but I will say that when I am a teacher, I will be more than just a person that puts grades in the grade book. I will be a human being, just like everyone else in the building, and I will care about my students beyond what letter their name is attached to. There is such a clear difference that can be seen my students of teachers who just teach and teachers who genuinely care about their students’ wellbeing. I will be the teacher who cares.
So, I will tell myself and my students every day that I teach the same thing I tell you every week: you are strong, you are capable, and you are amazing. Let’s make this week great and noteworthy! I know we can all do amazing things. Like I said, I hope that quarantine is going well for everyone reading this and that life is sweet. Until next time!
PS: puppy arrives in 12 days! 🙂
Bella's Blog 
Hey Bella!
I knew exactly what you were going through when you said how difficult it was for you to write the letter to the failing student because you were that student. I was also that student for a long time, and my heart went out to the student in the letter because I didn’t know what their home situation may be. I saw that you mentioned that as well; it is so important that educators keep this in mind when talking to their students about missing work or low grades. I don’t think these students should be given special treatment that makes it unfair for other students, but I do think these students deserve to have their voices heard. Teachers might even be able to work with these students to come up with equitable practices that will allow them to better complete their work. Perhaps coming in after school gets out and doing some homework in the classroom while the teacher grades papers? I did this many times with my wonderful teachers in high school, and it helped me immensely.
I just wanted to add that I loved what you said at the end of you blog post so much that I took a picture of it and put it in my ‘inspirational’ folder. I never really considered just how impactful it can be to go up to your students at the beginning of each day and tell them how strong and smart all of them are, and how we are going to tackle the day and become better learners by the end of it because I believe in them and they believe in themselves. I hope to remind my students of that every day when I eventually become a teacher. Since you’ve already got that mindset down, I’m sure any student would be lucky to have you as their teacher as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Bella! I enjoy reading your blogs because they are inspirational and warm. I agree that these emails are really helpful when we become teachers. When I was writing these emails, I found that they were hard than I imagined. I even felt guilty if I rejected students. However, as teachers, I think we need to be strict with what we have said in class. There should not be exception unless it is necessary. And I like a sentence in your blog “ you are strong, you are capable, and you are amazing.” These words are inspirational. I believe you will be a great teacher in the future!
LikeLiked by 1 person