This is why I teach...

To the Teacher of “That Kid”,

I see you struggling with that kid.  I see how exhausted you are as  you walk out of the building at the end of the day, completely depleted. You wave that kid goodbye and let out a sigh of relief, even if its just for a brief moment of peace.

It’s okay, let it out, it was a hard day.

I hear your words. I hear you telling the teachers in the break room about how that kid is going to get the best of you. In fact, I heard that kid’s teacher last year say all the same things, and I am sure you remember hearing all about it too. In some ways, it brings a bit of relief to know it isn’t just you, right?

I want you know that I know exactly how you feel. I do, I promise. I am not here to judge you or to shame you . It is actually the complete opposite.

I know you are trying. I see it in your face, I see it in your posture. I know you are doing everything you know how to do, but some days it just doesn’t feel like its enough, right? Somedays, that kid is just too much for you to handle and I can tell its wearing you down. Believe me, I understand.

Take a breath, sit for a minute and read this. I have something you need to see. That kid wants to tell you a few things today.

“ Teacher, I need you!

I know I am hard to handle, and I take everything you have. I know I push your buttons in all the right ways that make you second guess what you are doing. But I need you. I need you to keep pushing me. I need you to set limits and help me understand them.

I know you don’t know me. I know if you did, we would get a long a lot better. But, please, teacher, I need you to fight to get to know me. I can’t tell you with my words what I need you to know, so I might act out instead. Take that as my sign that I need you. You might be all I have.

I know you have 30 other kids in class. I know they need you too. But, teacher, I need you. I need you to find my good qualities because those other kids don’t see them. My teacher last year didn’t see them, and most days, if not all, I don’t even see them.

I know I throw fits. I know I disrupt your class and what you had on your agenda for the day. But teacher, I need you to believe in me. I need you to believe that my actions are a cry for help, not an act against you. Please don’t take it personally. I need you to believe that I want to fit in, but just don’t know how.

I know I make it hard, but please, I need you. I need you to see me. I need you to see beyond that behavior, that meltdown, that action and I need you to see the kid behind all the “thats”. You might be the only one that can get to the real me. It might take time, It might take patience. You know, it might even take learning about something you know nothing about. But, teacher, I need you! I need you to give it your all to see me.

I know you went into teaching to make a difference. I am here to tell you, I am that difference. I am the one that needs you! I promise, if you reach me, you will change my life. You will make a difference like no test can measure.

You might not see the difference today or tomorrow, but I promise, if you see that I need you, you will make a difference.

Please!

~ signed “That Kid“