Without them, none of us would know how to read. Or write. Or do math.
Teachers!
They play a phenomenally important role in our society. Today, I dedicate my InspyRomance blog post to those treasured people who dedicate their lives to this noble profession.
I am the daughter of a teacher. My mom taught kindergarten for seventeen years, and then, as we like to say, she “graduated” to first grade, which she taught for 
another seventeen years. I always felt like she was somewhat of a celebrity in our community. Imagine thirty-four years of teaching approximately twenty-five students each year, along with their fifty parents. That’s a lot of people who know your name! We’d be walking through the mall and I’d hear, “Mrs. Parlette!” My mom would turn, with a huge smile on her face, and she would greet that student or parent by name. Her memory never faltered. It didn’t matter whether she taught that student this year, last year, or fifteen years ago, she always placed a name with a now more grown up face. It was amazing.
I once asked her, “How do you recognize kids who are now in their teens, although you taught them when they were five or six years old?” She thought for a moment and said serenely, “Their eyes. Their eyes never change.”
I’d like to share this amazing picture from the local newspaper, circa the late 1960s. That’s my mom, Mrs. Parlette with her stylish beehive hairdo, working her magic with a lucky student.
She retired after 34 years of teaching, but only because she got the kind of incentive offer you can’t refuse! She still loved teaching. She never lost the energy or the patience needed to be one of the very best.
My own boys had a great crop of teachers in their educational career. When my younger son went to grade school, he had a teacher named Mrs. Smiley and another named Mrs. Laffey. What a wonderful welcome to young kids who are nervous about school … you couldn’t have come up with better names!
Teaching in the pandemic environement …
Teaching in the COVID pandemic has required our teachers to stretch their boundaries and be challenged in ways they never dreamed of before. Who could ever imagine when our schools closed down last March that they would still be partially (and in some areas fully) closed thirteen months later? And yet, the learning must continue, despite the schools being closed. And the lion’s share of the pressure for making that happen is on the teachers.
I have a friend, Ms. Lake, who teaches third grade and has been teaching remotely for over a year. My brain can’t even imagine how she’s doing that. How do 8-year-old kids have enough discipline to sit alone in a bedroom and concentrate on an online lesson? And how do teachers control the classroom from distractions when “the classroom” is actually in 25 different places?
Sure, she gets frustrated. She wishes things were different. But students are her first priority, just like they always have been. As an example, for April Fool’s Day, look what she did — instead of her students tuning into their online learning and seeing their beloved teacher on the screen … they instead found a substitute teacher named Mr. Lirpa. Eventually they figured out that Mr. “Lirpa” was “April” spelled backwards and it was actually their beloved Ms. Lake in an elaborate disguise!
I interviewed my friend Ms. Lake about her year of remote teaching and here’s something she shared with me:
“The most memorable part of remote teaching is the awe I experience every day at the resiliency of my third graders. I try to mimic in-person learning as much as I can, because it what they know, and what they will return to (hopefully) next year. We do break-out rooms a lot because I want my students to have the chance to work in student-led small groups. I act as facilitator going from one breakout room to the next just to check on each group’s progress and to be available if they need me. One day, I popped into a group that consisted of 4 students working on a fractions assignment. One of the students was apparently having trouble understanding, and another student had shared his screen and created a Google Slide with pictures and a diagram. I listened to him explain it, and at the end of his explanation, he said, “Do you understand it now?” I didn’t say a word. I quietly left the group and had a “gulp” moment.”
Ms. Lake kept a journal of funny comments from her students in this unusual time in education history. Here are a few of my favorites:
Me (to a student who wasn’t paying attention): “Amy, are you with me?”
Amy: “The two brain cells I have left are trying to operate.”
Me (teasing them): “We have so much to do today and it’s half-day Wednesday. I think I’m going to keep you on all day.”
Adrian: “Do you have the authority to do that?”
Talking to a friend before school started, not realizing that I can hear her, a student says: “I have toothpaste in my hair from earlier this morning. It’s so gross. This is my life.”
My dog Jackson was barking at a squirrel and the kids could hear him. One of them said, “I think Jackson forgot to mute his mic!”
It’s no wonder that the inspirational romance genre is filled with wonderful stories that feature teachers as lead characters. And so, in celebration of our amazing teachers who are hanging in there through the pandemic, the changes in teaching and still educating our children every day through all the challenges … here is …
InspyRomance Reading List … featuring teachers!
Roadtrip to Redemption, by Laurie Larsen. Teacher Leslie Malone faces a lonely summer when her husband leaves her after a twenty year marriage. She hits the road, traveling wherever God leads her. Little does she know it turns out to be the very best summer of all!
Downtown Billionaire, by Hannah Jo Abbott. A brand-new billionaire trying to give back. An outspoken teacher who won’t back down.
Summer to Remember, by Tara Grace Ericson. As a middle-school teacher, Mark Dawson tries to teach students it’s okay to embrace your quirks; a lesson he also finds himself reiterating to the cute new baker in town. When he is accused of the unthinkable and his career and community threaten to crumble; the shame is too much to share.
Operation Back-to-School, by Elizabeth Maddrey. A single mom, her daughter’s teacher, and a chance to find love the second time around.
This Wandering Heart, by Janine Rosche. No one in the quaint town of West Yellowstone, Montana knows that unassuming geography teacher Keira Knudsen moonlights as sensational travel blogger Kat Wanderfull. No one, that is, except for her first love, Robbie Matthews, who has just discovered the woman he is falling for online is the same one that broke his heart five years ago.
Memories of Mist, by Valerie Comer. A conflict-avoiding teacher. A take-no-prisoners PTA mom. All that pulls them together is the gardening class he’s reluctantly teaching.
Smile for Me, by Jan Thompson. She is laid-back. He is uptight. Never the twain shall…kiss?
Discussion questions: do you have a favorite teacher from your own schooldays? Why did you love this teacher? Do you have any fun anecdotes to share about your own or your children’s schooling? What’s your favorite book that features a teacher? What can we all do to celebrate our teachers as this school year winds to a close?
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
Both my parents were teachers. Unsung heroes.
My favorite teacher was my first grade teacher because she made me feel special and had the class listen to me read. I followed in her footsteps and taught first grade for 39 years and now I am a substitute teacher.
Hi Laurie! This retired teacher thanks your for your inspiring humorous blog. I tell my grandkids, who are learning remotely at Oma’s Virtual Academy that I was a slow learner. Took me 50 years to graduate from school. (My schooling with college was 17 years and I taught school for 33 years.) I am the teaching coach to my 1st grade granddaughter and my 7th and 10th grade grandsons. Our granddaughter Maddie has an exceptional teacher, who is patient and enthusiastic in zoom meetings. Maddie has excelled with the one on one instruction from me (her teaching coach). Virtual school has been more difficult for my grandsons, who have never met their virtual teachers. This retired teacher is not fond of their program. As a retired high school teacher in a small community, I am also greeted by students. Many I recognize. My question usually is what year did you graduate and what is your name. If I don’t recognize them since sometimes I only had a student for a semester, than I ask them what class I had them for … English, Creative Writing, Journalism or German. I chuckle when they say, NO class, but my friend had you. Then I feel better. Don’t have dementia yet. LOL
May 3 – 7 is National Teacher Appreciation Week. My grandkids school system is already collecting Thank You’s from parents and the community. Send teachers a special treat or note. Google National Teacher Appreciation Week and there are lots of suggestions. Thanks again for thinking of teachers during this most unusual time.
Also READERS please keep Midwest Farmers in your prayers. Took a road trip yesterday through SW Michigan. All the fruit trees (apples, cherries, peaches) are blossoming due to a heat wave early April – temperatures hight 60s. Last night we had a freeze. This morning our temperature is 28 degrees. Local fruit farmers have been up nights spraying the trees. Covering the flowering buds with ice puts a protective layer on them. Very stressful week for fruit farmers. Many of our farmers are receiving little sleep. Last year due to frost they lost the peach crop. Michigan is a big agricultural state. Not sure how the berries are doing – strawberries and blueberries.
They sure are!
Oh Lori! That’s awesome! Then this tribute is directed at you!
Oh Renate! This post is a tribute to YOU my friend! It’s so kind of you and other grandparents throughout the world to jump back into educating during this unique time in history. I know your grandchildren will remember your help forever!
Prayers for the fruit crop!
I had quite a few favorite teachers in school, and even in college! The ones that were my favorites were ones that took the time with each student, to get to know them and to find out ways to make things “real” for them. There were some that only focused on the troublemakers, not on actually teaching. Those were NOT my favorites! My Mom taught preschool at our church for quite a few years, after my sisters and I were all out of school. The kids were all 3 or 4, and YEARS later they would see Mom and still know her, and their parents! Mom would remember some, though not all!
I love teachers who make time after/between classes to help students individually and get to know them personally.
I was homeschooled so only had one teacher for school but my third grade Sunday school teacher was my favorite. She taught for a long time and I really looked forward to getting to be in her class. She used her sense of humor and took time to make things fun on top of teaching her lessons.
Homeschooling teachers deserve a special tribute all their own! The challenge of educating your own kids, every subject, year after year…I can’t imagine. Homeschooling teachers deserve our applause!
I had the best English teacher for seventh grade. I’d just transferred back to my hometown and was pretty nervous about seeing everyone after being gone for six years. She made that class the absolute best! It didn’t matter who you were, she loved and taught each student, helping and guiding without ever losing her temper. And we had some pretty tough kids in my class who delighted in making teacher’s lives miserable. They never bothered her though. She’d just smile and ask how they were doing. I still talk to her today, and like your mom, she remembers everyone by name.
My parents, too, were teachers. And my sister, my aunt, my grandfather and several cousins. I got on the family boat as well, as a teaching assistant for computer programming in college, adult Bible study for many years, even a couple of semesters of computer at the local community college as well as mentoring relationships in several learning settings over the years. There is incredible joy in seeing that light bulb go on :).
It was my parents who instilled in me a love of language and learning. Mom taught French and Dad taught music (a language of its own!) and I managed to become proficient in both. One of my fun memories was getting my mom laughing to the point of tears by engaging one of my classmates in a conversation in French but with the strongest American southern accents we could muster. (I demonstrated to a French friend at one point and he assured me he had no idea what I was saying.)
Although I spent very little classroom time with my dad, those who did would often come back to visit and express their thanks. I know he treasured those times.
So, with all these teachers in the family and a brother who is a librarian, I want to share with all of you the certain knowledge that, contrary to popular opinion, they all eat and go to the bathroom :).
What a tribute to her! She sounds like she’s absolutely in the right profession!
Teaching is definitely your family business! What a wonderful legacy your parents left for you!
I had some very good teachers growing up, in elementary I loved it when my teacher would put up a picture and she would tell us to write a story about it. My third grade teacher would have a chart up for our spelling test we had once a week, she had our names on them and then if we got all the words spelled write for the week we would got to put a star for that week on the chart. At the end of the six weeks , the one with the most stars got a very special prize. My 9th grade Biology teacher was a really good teacher, he always made learning so much fun, and because of him, I loved Biology and I learned alot . Teachers play a Very important part in everyones lives, Thank God for Good teachers. Have a Great rest of the week and stay safe.
You see how long those activities have stayed in your mind? Those teachers really made a mark on you!
Teachers are heroes!!! I had two teachers during my school days that have encouraged and supported me throughout everything! I was blessed <3
My senior English teacher was my favorite. He believed in me and coached me on some scholarship applications.
Always loved Laura Ingalls Wilder as a teacher.
My favourite teacher was Mr Moody he was my grade 5 teacher. He was an older teacher and my friends grandfather. He was tough but fair which made him good. He was very good at teaching maths and went the extra mile.
Here in Australia its still early in the school year (ours is a calendar year).
They sure do make a big difference in our lives!
I loved my English teachers, as well as my high school Speech teacher. They loved kids! They loved spending their days with us, you could tell!
How special to have a friend’s grandfather as your teacher!
Now that’s interesting that your school years go through the calendar year. I never knew that!
I’m a preschool teacher and my husband teaches high school. Needless to say, teaching pops up in my books, too. I don’t think teachers are used enough in fiction. I know so many. And if it wasn’t for my eighth grade English teacher also being an author, I might never have believed I could be, too.
She/he was such an inspiration to you! Did you ever let him/her know that you’re an author because they set the example?
I don’t even know if I could find her to let her know. We moved away from there when I was between 11th and 12th grade. I need to go look her up and see if I can find her.