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When my former students come back to visit and they thank me for preparing them for high school and beyond.

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When a former student wins a Nobel Prize and thanks me during their acceptance speech......then they pay off the balance of my mortgage.

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When students come back and tell me that I inspired them in some way to accomplish what they have accomplished.

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When a former KDOG founding student won an Emmy award.

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Seeing my students make connections between their home language and the language or content I am teaching!

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Today, at the end of math class, one student who usually doesn't pay attention said "This is easy." I can't wait to do all of these for homework."

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All of my moments are successful and give me clarity on why I am an educator.

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Seeing my students have Aha moments when I'm having them go through different simulations, and they finally begin to understand what I've been talking about!

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"Oh!!! I get it!" followed by a smile of satisfaction.

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During the Exhibition experience, the students that struggle the most with the regular content have moments where they are excited about meeting each deadline.  These little successes make the difficult process (for the teacher) a rewarding one.

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When doing a lab on electron configuration.  A student was creating Sodium and Chlorine models, and suddenly had a light bulb go off about why Sodium Chloride is such a common molecule.

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Seeing a student who is difficult to engage get totally engrossed in an activity.

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Watching struggling students work together on a group project and find success because they had a choice in the way that they could prove what they had learned.  Also watching these same students take it "back to basics" because they recognized they were empowered by the familiar.

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When a kiddo, who had been struggling with issues at home, told me he just had to give me a hug because an activity had made him so happy.

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Watching the least likely students partner on work that they are driven to complete, in part because the supports are in place to not accept or allow failure.

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After not finding a common connection

with a student I talked to one of their

friends to find a common ground to connect

and it has made such a difference with the student.

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When a student has been struggling with a concept suddenly gets it and the light bulb shines brightly in their head I feel a great sense of joy.

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A parent called and said that "CMS has turned my daughter's life around. The staff is amazing and the teachers are amazing. I'm so grateful to CMS."  Last week, a student said "This school is so lucky to have counselors. We didn't have any at my last school. I like having a counselor to talk to."

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Light bulbs - lights turning on as we work through math practice problems.

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The look on the faces of my beginners after

they play a chord for the first time

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I'm not feeling great today and told my classes that, and instead of talking over me and making it a miserable day, they have been extra quiet and were even telling each other to be quiet. This is including my 4th period who have been off the hook lately. Made me want to shed a tear!

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I had a student tell me that she wanted me to teach her brother next year because he needed a teacher that could make school fun and exciting again. She explained that her brother was not handling their parents divorce well; I was happy yet sad to hear that...

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While teaching read 180 one of my students made a huge jump in his lexile level. He had a huge smile and confidence that I did not see in the beginning of the year.  I teach for these moments of confidence within my studnets.

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When working/struggling with a student all year long to be successful in math and life, not knowing if you are getting through to them.  Having him come back at the end of the year with flowers and a thank you.  It really let me know that he was taking what I was saying to heart.

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Many students come to art class with little or no experience in art and feel inadequate based on their ability to draw. As a result, some students begin my class disliking art. The common adult version of this is " I'm not creative".  A student, who did not like art wrote the following to me this year: " I really appreciate the way you didn't give up on trying to get me to like art. It really helped me when you explained everything carefully. The skills I learned with you last year will really help me succeed this year"I'm so glad to know that my students feel I will never give up on them- even when they drive me crazy! Go STEAM!

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In a conference, a student told his PO that his life had change because he knew that adults at school really cared about him.  For the first time this student was earning A's in all of his classes. Later that student gave me a hug and said, "Thanks for taking a chance on me."

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I had a parent call me in the morning on my way to work telling me their student had run away at 3 AM.  It was a December morning, cold and rainy, and when I showed up to school the student was sitting on the sidewalk waiting for me in shorts and a t-shirt.  He sat through first and second period and during break he sat on the couch and fell asleep.  He woke up during lunch and realized he had slept through math class, he then asked me if he could do his math during lunch time.  Reminds me of the song "Concrete Angel" which always reminds me this is more than a job and more than a decent paycheck.

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While doing lice checks for science camp I had a girl with really smelly, dirty hair.  After the other student was gone I asked her how often she washes her hair and she said once a week.  We had a nice conversation about personal hygiene and girl stuff!  The next day she came in the office and I told her I had a book for her (a tween book about all that fun stuff) and she was surprised.  She said "for me?" and I said "Yes, for you...to keep and take home."  She smiled and said "Thanks Ms. Michelle."

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After working through a difficult situation involving parents and students, the student said to me,

"thank you for not being mad at me and yelling like my dad does. You really do care about me.  Thanks for your help."

It's important to always show you care, even in difficult situations.

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I was sharing with a 5th-grade student about all the

different gifts each one of us have, and without a blink,

he said, "Mz. Wood," your gifts are that you have a kind

heart and are really good at helping people solve their

problems."  Wow, what a validation for one's job, eh!:)

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A student told me, "I never understood how to do percents,

but I really get it now that you taught me a different way to

do them."  This validated that I am able to change the way a

student looks at learning and increase their understanding.