As parents we have all been exposed to the "parent-teacher interview." I remember as a child dreading the return of my parents following their interview with my teachers. I knew they would hear the standard, which was always: 1) Susan's grades are good, 2) Susan talks too much in class, 3) Susan socializes too much in class. Needless to say, I was a busy student and the social side of school was very important to me.
Interestingly, I seem to have similar interviews when it comes my children. My three children all do very well in school and they are extremely social. I'm reminded once again that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, which brings me to my story about a very caring teacher.
Last year, my daughter (Sophia), who is an A+ student, was in her first year of junior high. Grade 7, as we all know, is an interesting transition. Elementary school and its structure and teacher driven schedules seem to fly away the moment you walk into the "other" side of the school. My daughter, 小蓝视频 extremely social and usually very capable of handling her school work plus her social behaviour, found herself in this new world of self-discipline, student-driven schedules, no recesses to chat and linger and a heavier workload. The balancing act she was accustomed to didn't seem to be working in junior high.
Report cards came out and surprisingly a few of her grades had dipped, only slightly, but this is something that neither she nor her teachers had ever seen before with her.
Parent-teacher interview time quickly approached and I received an e-mail from her geography/history teacher, Mr. Brad Clooney. Mr. Clooney knew Sophia well and he knew what she was capable of. His e-mail requested that Sophia be present at our interview, to which her father and I quickly agreed. On the day of the interview, I could tell that my lovely Sophia was slightly nervous and unsure of what Mr. Clooney's intentions were.
Through her eyes I could see concern, the same concern I had as a 13-year-old girl. What would he tell my parents? Is he going to tell them how much I talk and focus on socializing rather than listening? How much trouble am I going to be in after this?
She was clearly unsettled and deeply concerned about what would be revealed during the conversation. As her parent (and like most parents), we know our kids well. I was pretty sure that Mr. Clooney was going to highlight Sophia's socializing and the dip in her grade was due to lack of attention, etc. I wasn't worried, but I played the parent card well and let my (at the time) 12-year-old daughter know how serious this was, we were 小蓝视频 called in by her teacher and her presence was requested. It was serious.
We arrived at the interview and Sophia was nervous but poised. Mr. Clooney began to talk to us about her marks and went through his detailed information. We all listened intently and then Mr. Clooney asked Philip and me if he could direct the conversation towards Sophia. We always knew that Mr. Clooney was a great teacher and the students greatly respected him but for Philip and me, this is when Mr. Clooney showed who he really was and the extraordinary teacher that he is.
Mr. Clooney said to Sophia, "Sophia, you are a very smart girl, you are socialable, very outgoing and a joy to teach. You engage in interesting conversation and you have a great interest in your classes. Unfortunately, your marks aren't reflecting this. Sophia, you are better than this, you are a scholar student and you are operating below your natural ability."
He went on to ask her if she was happy with her grades and if she thought this was her best effort. He talked to her and during the conversation he masterfully allowed Sophia to see what she was capable of through her schooling. He brought her to a place that was hard, she had to accept responsibility and then make a mature decision to make the necessary changes to bring the gold that he saw within her.
Mr. Clooney is a wonderful teacher and an engaging teacher, and as I said earlier, the kids respect him - they have fun with him while he teaches them. In this instance, Mr. Clooney put on the strong teacher hat and took an opportunity with our child to set her on the right track. Mr. Clooney challenged her, corrected her and disciplined her. He did this wisely and seasoned with wisdom.
Sophia came away from our meeting inspired and grateful. She recognized what Mr. Clooney did and
how he took a risk at telling her exactly what he thought. She knew he wasn't impressed with the work she was putting forward, she had disappointed him and us.
Sophia determined that day to accept Mr. Clooney's challenge and from that day on, instead of Grade 7 小蓝视频 a weird and awkward year, it became a year she will remember.
We are grateful that Mr. Clooney took the time to simply care about his student. He truly is a caring teacher and a teacher I believe Sophia will remember for her lifetime all because he cared about her and made a point of really teaching her.
What Mr. Clooney did in that interview was true teaching. Yes, he is her geography/history teacher, and he helps her learn about the world, but that day he truly taught a young girl how to be all that she can be. That's why we are grateful.
Sophia was given the opportunity to see herself through eyes other than her own, other than her parents, she saw herself through the eyes of a teacher who believes in her. Sophia is once again excelling in every area of school life, her grades are back to their great standing and her social life remains strong and healthy.
To all the teachers out there ... may you never underestimate or forget the incredible impact you have, and can have, on young lives. Kids need your wisdom and to simply know, just like Mr. Clooney, that you care.
Susan J. Sohn
susanjsohn.com/thefamilyroom
blogtalkradio.com/susanjsohn
