A "Why I Work For Food" Moment

I had what a former colleague would call a “why I work for food moment” the other day.

I have a student who has struggled since day one with everything we have done in class, especially writing and semi independent assignments. She has never seemed to “get it”. The look of frustration on her face with every set of instructions I gave her verbal, written or semaphore made me want to hang up my lesson plans for good. Most of her assignments were written testaments to her obvious aggravation with school. I was thinking of checking with the counselor to see if she could be “tested” for an I.E.P.
On our most recent test for which she had to write two essays, she didn’t stop once to chant her mantra of “I don’t get it”. Her only question was a point of clarification. I was sure she had given up and that her written work would be pictures of frustrated apathy. Not wanting to put her further on edge I stayed away unless summoned. Upon reading her writing my jaw dropped. She was direct, concise and hit every part of both questions, by far her best effort all year. Her confident grin upon seeing her score made my week, month possibly my year. For the first time she trusted that she is smart and can do the work. This is the kind of earned confidence will carry her through tough situations as she moves through life.

THIS is why I teach and THIS is why- in my mind- education exists. Not for some unrealistic state or national testing goals, but for kids to figure out that they already have the tools to be successful; school is just there to help them learn to use them. I wish I had figured this stuff out before I finished…my second junior year of college.