Rising to the Occasion

It’s a new year, with new expectations, new challenges, new teachers, new classrooms, new sneakers, new friends, new schedules, and new
school supplies.

Wednesday night I went to my middle son’s Back to School Night (yes, already) and met his teacher. As I sat there and listened to her presentation, I found myself smiling and thinking that this is going to be a successful year. I could relate to her as a teacher, but even more importantly, I could appreciate her as a parent. 

Many of us come from a time in education where what our teachers said was IT.  Society accepted that teachers were “right” and kids were kids. There was very little questioning back to the teacher happened.

My parents' very first statement to my siblings and I when we were kids and went home complaining went something like, ”Teachers are always right.” Now, being a teacher myself, I know that teachers do not walk on water and that they make mistakes. We are only human.  However, there was definitely a different attitude towards teachers and school in general. 

I share this with you not to try to change your mind or say that teachers are above being wrong. But as I sat there at Back to
School Night and listened to my son’s teacher explain her classroom and running a tight ship, I could appreciate that I was in her home and that while there, my son would follow the rules of her home. She was inviting, funny, charming, and definitely knows more than I do about how to handle 25 third graders at once. 

The one thing that she said at Back to School Night that, as a parent I loved and as a teacher I agree with, is that she is going to push and challenge our students. Her expectations are high and these kids will be pushed to rise to the occasion. Hooray! That is music to my ears! 

Last week I wrote about setting goals for a new year and how to go about doing that. My homework for you this week is to talk with
your child about expectations and rising to the occasion.

As a child, if I had gone home and told my parents that this is what the teacher said would be happening, and I complained, my parents always backed the teacher – explaining it was his expectation that “x, y, and z” be accomplished while in his class.  It wasn’t an option, it was an expectation.

As I met my new students this week, I looked into their faces and thought about what my expectations for this year are for each of them – how they will each be pushed beyond what they think they can do because I know they can do it.  They will be given the tools to do it and they will rise to the occasion.  When we set our goals high and share our expectations, our children can and will pull through.

I will leave you with one of my favorite sayings to share with your child: Anything worth having, is worth working for. It’s not supposed to be easy.  Happy 2011-2012 school year and may your child succeed and grow this year!