What we did today

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CASAS Practice - all homework for this week

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A person I admire

The person that I really admire  is a teacher at the middle school I used to work at. Her name is Lisa and she teaches art and English. There was no other teacher who made students feel as safe and comfortable as Lisa did. She had a way of communicating with people, especially children, that made everyone feel that she saw the very best in them. It was almost as if she could understand more than just human words and expressions - she could see what was in someone’s heart.

If a student had a problem at home or at school, they always came to Lisa. They would even tell her things they would not tell the school counselor. Maybe it was because Lisa always made time to listen to their stories and was genuinely interested in their lives while other teachers were only interested in making sure they were learning. She also always had food for her students because she knew that some of them came to school hungry. She offered snacks, bottles of water and a patient listening ear. 

When she taught art, she inspired kids to be creative. She allowed them to truly express themselves even if they were doing something different from what was being taught. She gave them honest feedback on their work but always found something clever or beautiful in it and that made them feel confident and appreciated.

Lisa was also in charge of organizing school events like spirit weeks and dances. She welcomed her students’ ideas and made sure that they were able to put them to good use. Together, they created decorations, posters, costumes, and menus. They also sold tickets for clubs and events and learned money management. Lisa was there to guide them but it was the students who did all the work. Because they worked hard and saw real life results, they gained confidence and agency. 

The downside was that Lisa could never take her lunch break and always stayed late. The door to her classroom was always open. Kids adored her. Some students who had difficult lives at home preferred to stay in her room after school and helped her file papers, make copies and organize supplies. They learned in her classes and outside of her classes. She was a truly compassionate and empowering role model and I felt that I also had a lot to learn from her.



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