I have many goals as a teacher, but my primary goal, is to make school a fun and memorable place that kids want to return to daily.
I want my students to despise Saturday and Sunday.
I want them to lament the approach of summer vacation.
Lofty and perhaps unattainable goals, but ones I strive for daily.
If my students love school, I have won.
To that end, I have an endless array of strategies to make every day a little different, a little special, and most of all, fun for my students.
I believe that “fun” is the word most often missing in education today. I believe that if teachers sought to make the school day more fun for their students, learning would increase exponentially.
A few months ago, I received a note from a student that let me know that I was on the path of accomplishing my goal this year, at least for her.
__________________________
Dear Mr. Dicks,
As you can tell I am not here today. I am out sick because I threw up many times. I was determined to go to school. . . Until I threw up again. Then I realized, “Oh no! I need to go to school. I really did. Something might happen when I’m not there! Something always happens!” My mom told me I should stay home, but I told her what you always say. . . “You never know what you could miss out on if you miss school!” Then I threw up again. So I guess I’m staying home. Don’t do anything too fun today. Please?
