My Favorite Teacher...

School was something that never came easy for me.  I have many memories of my elementary school days.  I remember the smell of the school, standing in the lunch line, and going to the school store to buy erasers.  I remember feeling the building was so big, even though it only housed K-6 grades.  Washington Elementary School,  was a time I will never forget because it was during this time, I met a teacher that changed my life forever.

Kindergarten back then, was basically a time when you just learned your ABC's, counting to 100, and learning about "Letter People."  We would be playing, and then there would be a knock on the door.  Behind the door, stood one of the "Letter People."  We would watch a movie about that letter person, do a craft and then sit in a circle and see who in our class name started with that letter.  My Kindergarten teacher was very strict. There was no having fun in her class.  I think she had taught Kindergarten for like 100 years, and she really needed to retire.  I think even Aubree may have ended up with her as her teacher.    But Kindergarten was nothing compared to the misery of 1st grade...

By far, first grade was MISERABLE.  My teacher hated me, and hated me with a passion, and the feelings were mutual.  I remember one time, I had gotten a bad grade on a paper.  She knew it was mine, but I had forgotten to put my name on it.  After she handed out the papers, I did not get one back.  She held it up, and showed it to the class and yelled at me for not putting my name on it.  Everyone knew it was mine, and very visible was the bad grade.  She accused me of lying in front of the class because I did not claim the paper when she held it up.  Who does that?  Especially to a young, impressionable kid?  She was awful!  I will never forget that as long as I live.

Second grade was a little better, but not by much.  The one thing I remember most, was she would teach us math.  Now, I am not math minded person.  She would always show us how to do the math on the board.  Then she would hand out a worksheet.  She would sit at her desk and put a folder up on her desk that had a lady bug on it.  It said "Do Not Bug Me."  So, we were not allowed to ask her a question.  We also were not allowed to talk to our neighbors.  So if you had a question, you were on your own to figure it out.  This has made such an impression on me.  It is like throwing kids in a huge pit and having them fend for themselves.  Teachers should NEVER do this!  Hence, one reason I had to repeat 2nd grade...and guess what?  My mom put me back in HER class!  What was she thinking?

Third grade was good...cant remember much.  But I remember really liking her.  But it was 4th grade that forever changed me.

This is when I was introduced to Mrs. Bullock.  Mrs. Bullock, is by far the one person who has made a huge impression on me.  I thought she was amazing.  From what she wore, to the smell of her perfume.  She never spoke a mean word.  She is the example of the perfect teacher!

I looked up to her like no one else.  I would love to go to school because she was there.  She would read to us everyday.  She had this rocking chair in the front of the room, over in the left corner.  We would gather there for reading hour.  She always wore this bangle bracelet and when she would read, the bracelet would hit the rocking chair arm.  I loved this bracelet!  It was silver, and I wanted on just like it, so I could read and have it hit the arm of the chair.

She treated me with kindness, respect, and she cared.  I had never had a teacher do that for me before. She helped me when I needed it, and never singled me out.  She was the type of teacher I needed to succeed.  At the end of the year, my mom even wrote her a letter telling her just how much of an impression she had made on me.  My mom still has a copy of this, and a few years ago, I got to read it!

I can't remember when I contacted her later in life.  But I did.  I wanted her to know just how much she meant to me as a child.  We began a friendship that I cherish till this day.  When I would come home on breaks from school, we would meet for lunch.  Our lunches would last for hours because of all the talking we would do.  We would catch up on our lives, and just spend some time together.  In between these lunches, we would email each other.  I would tell her about all the major events in my life. She was present the day I married Larry, and she was one of the first people I told when we were expecting our baby's.

Honestly, the reason I went into teaching was because of her.  I wanted to be the influence on children that she was on me. I wonder how many other former students feel this way about her?  I wonder if she really knows, how much she impacted children's lives?  I hope she does.