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TEACHERS.NET GAZETTE
Volume 4 Number 1

COVER STORY
Corks are popping! January is awards month in the world of children's literature. Esme Codell writes about contenders for the Caldecott award for best illustration in American children's literature, the Newbery for best writing, the Coretta Scott King award, and others...
REGULAR FEATURES
Special Days This Month by Ron Victoria
Featured Schools
Classroom Photos by Members of the Teachers.Net Community
January Poems
A Small Collection of Poems for the New Year
The Lighter Side of Teaching
  • Classroom Chuckles
  • Goose At the Senior Center by Goose
  • Schoolies
  • Woodhead
  • Handy Teacher Recipes
    Classroom Crafts
    Help Wanted - Teaching Jobs
    Teddy Bear vs. Real Bear from the Lesson Bank
    PRINTABLES
    Cinnamon Bear
    Categories Bag Take Home Activity
    Here's a Little Groundhog
    Upcoming Ed Conferences
    Letters to the Editor
    TEACHER INSPIRATION
    Happy Ending Ahead
    ON-SITE INSIGHTS
    "Art" & "Craft" How they are alike and how they differ by MaryAnn Kohl
    We get the best kids these parents have... from the Second Grade Mailring
    January Columns
    January Articles
    January Informational Items
    Gazette Home Delivery:

    Candles of Inspiration...

    Happy Ending Ahead

    by jme


    I got a phone call from a former student yesterday. This kid hasn't done badly, considering the problems he's dealt with throughout his life, but he'd given up and made a few bad decisions lately (starting with dropping out of school). So I sent him a Christmas card with an "I believe in you" message scribbled at the bottom.

    He called me yesterday and said, "I just wanted to talk to you. You're the only person who believes in me." I said it probably just seemed that way, and he said, "Well, there are people who believe in me like they know I'm capable of doing better than I am, but you're the only person who always believes in me, even when I do something stupid." He said several times, "You just don't know how much your letter meant to me."

    This kid was laid off from his job before Christmas and is scheduled to take the GED next month. He thinks he will pass the test and that he will be called back in to work early next month, but he still sounded pretty down. A lot of things beyond his control have gone wrong, and, as I've said, he's made some bad decisions on his own.

    I know this isn't a "happy ending" (at least not yet). This boy clearly feels like a failure and feels totally alone, but he still has a glimmer of hope. And he asked if it was alright if he called again if he needed to talk. (Of course, I said yes.)


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