Starbucks

Ok let me get into the zone as I write this. I’m going to Starbucks tomorrow morning. Not for me (well ok I’ll obvi get myself a drink too) but I’m getting a drink for one of my students. We have a new PBIS system at school and my students are working H.A.R.D. to earn tickets and earn rewards. This student saved up 80 tickets to get the reward of me buying her a Starbucks drink. She was so nervous at the end of the day Friday that she wouldn’t have enough, but she counted and she had just over 80 tickets. I could see the joy on her face knowing I’ll be bringing her Starbucks come Monday morning. She asked me how many tickets to earn a cake pop too, and I said 25 (I hadn’t thought of that possibility before). She didn’t have enough tickets but tomorrow I’m going to surprise her with a cake pop anyway. Because seeing that joy, THAT is why I’m a teacher.

I came so close to leaving the profession this fall. And I’m glad I didn’t. I love being a teacher because I’m good at it and I’m good at caring for and loving others. I love my students more than anything, and they need that love.

My colleague has been out sick all week so her students have been split into various classes all week. I had four of her kids in my class on Tuesday and two of the girls typically have absolutely awful behavior. Like legitimately, that class is one of the worst behaved in the history of the school, and I’m saying that without any exaggeration. So I brought these students into my class and showed them love. Cut to Friday – wait, let me tell another story about Friday first.

We had an assembly on Friday to acknowledge students and celebrate their hard work. We chose a student of the month and I pushed haaaard for my student to win. And so we did select her. I was so happy because she deserves it so much. They invited her mom to the award ceremony and that was so precious to me. At the end, the mom was going to take pictures of her kids (my students, they’re twins) standing in line waiting to go back to class. For such a special moment, I suggested we take a picture against the wall so it looks nicer. I offered to take a picture for them and took pictures of their mom with her two kids. It was so special. When they were done, the mom asked for a picture of me with the kids. My heart! That meant so much to me. I loved seeing the mom there to celebrate her children because they absolutely deserve it. They’re amazing kids and I’m so, so honored and blessed to be their teacher. Each and every one of my kids. It is a sincere honor to get to love them and be with them every single day. I always tell them that they deserve nice things and deserve a nice classroom (when I’m telling them to respect their environments) and it’s true. They deserve me – a teacher who loves and cares for them and does everything I can to help and support them. It’s a sincere honor.

Ok cut back to the students in my class on Friday. My colleague was out sick again so her students were divided to other classes. One girl in particular, who was with me on Tuesday, was absolutely refusing to go to her assigned room. Like not budging from the doorway refusing. So I offered her to hang out in my classroom for a few minutes before going to her assigned room. She begged me to stay in my room for the day. I called the office and let them know she was with me for safe-keeping while they worked to get her to her assigned room. Then, another staff member came to my room and told me the office was letting this student stay with me for the day. Yay! I was so excited. And mind you, this is a girl who presents very problematic behaviors in her normal classroom. And with me, she was great. Truly an angel. I stand by the fact that she knows I love her too, after only two days in my classroom. When it was time to walk the kids to lunch, they were able to sign a poster about things they love about our school. One of my students said “my teacher!” and they wrote it on the poster. The student from my colleague went up to the staff member writing on the poster and said, “What’s her name?” pointing to me. “Ms. Manos,” the counselor responded, and this student said, “I love Ms. Manos!” so the counselor added that to the poster. Then the girl came up to me and told me personally that she loves me and added my name to the poster. I’m just blessed to be able to show her love because she deserves it and I’m fortunate to have had her in my class even for the day. After lunch, a staff member told me how this girl had made a mess in the lunchroom and refused to clean it up. I looked at her and asked her politely if she could go clean up the mess she made and she said, “Sure!” and went without a problem. As we were finishing out the day, I let her answer the phone for me as it rang, and she was so proud to do that. At the end of the day, students turned their tickets in for prizes. I let her turn her tickets in with our class and gave her prizes I had bought for our class. She was thrilled to get the prizes and I was so happy to share.

So yeah, I’m getting Starbucks tomorrow. I love my students and it is not lost on me the power my presence and love have on them. I respect them and help them learn and grow, and it’s shaping them into such fine, young people.

I’m not sure what I want to do next year and it’s still a very real possibility that I’ll go to a different school next year (I have 2 job offers on the table already) but I tell you with absolute certainty that if I leave, it will not be because of the students. They’re children trying to make it in the harshness of this world and they’re doing a damn good job of it. I’m so honored to be their teacher and it is an absolute privilege to bring them joy in small things like a drink and a cake pop from Starbucks. ❤️