I Have the BEST Students EVER

 

And smart!

Two days ago a student of mine who just graduated called me (yes, many of my students have my cell phone number) and asked if I wanted to hang out. She suggested going for a walk at the park near my house. I told her I thought she must be very bored this summer to want to hang out with me. I figured that if Matan could go to Lakers games with one of his teachers, then I can go for a walk with this student. Besides, she’s 18 and going off to university soon, who knows when I will see her next.

We decided to go on Thursday because Fiona came home on Wednesday. I have been dying to go for a walk with my baby and to take her to the park, so this was the perfect excuse for a first outing.

We at the park and we walked, chatting about stuff and life, and at one point she asked if could detour to the bathroom. As we approached the bathroom area, I noticed some familiar looking people sitting under a tree. It turns out that it was all a rouse to get me to the park for a surprise party. They had food and cake and Twister. It was so nice to see these students. As a teacher, it is hard not to have favorites, but this group definitely is. If Fiona turns out like any one of them, I will be a very happy and proud mama. They are all very intelligent, thoughtful, funny, independent, and community minded. Not only have I taught them math, but I’ve spent countless weekend hours performing community service with them as part of Key Club. Apparently, they are also very sneaky and good schemers.

They gave me some gifts and some very nice cards that I am going to cherish forever. They remind me why I love teaching. When John said to me that one day we are going to have a teenage girl, I told him I was looking forward to it. There is a reason that I like teaching high school. These students are it. Because some of them are still under the age of 18, I cannot post a photo of them, but I can post photos of their gifts.

So to Cherie, Zuly, Eddie, Belen, Rosalva, Sam, Lisette, Andrea, and Dale, Thanks! You really are the BEST students EVER!!!! I’m sorry I’m going to miss your senior year those of you still in high school and good luck in college to those that just graduated (I missed the graduation because of Fiona’s birth).

The little card has all sorts of math stuff such as the Quadratic Formula, Standard Deviation, Natural Log, and i squared. One of the cards congratulated me on the new addition to my finite mathematical equation.

Fiona is currently wearing the outfit on the left. It’s really soft and fleecy and says “Squeeze Me.”