Teaching moment

I have been a student for years and I have "taught" for a long time and it is rare that I have those moments that I see my work paying off. Recently I decided to go for my MA in education instead of running the gauntlet of the California Credential track. I have also moved from a materialistic city to a humble, quiet forest town. I love living there. I love the sounds and smells and sights. I have run into the problem that there are not very many jobs in a small town. So I am on the road to becoming the newest tutor in my little town.

I have my first student (that isn't related to me) and he is an 11th grader. I bit my nails down anticipating a student that I would have little to nothing in common with and that I had no experience teaching. You see I have taught for many years but they were children from 2 years old to 12 years old, a 16 year old was a little overwhelming.

But something amazing happened during our second session, as I was explaining why we use quotes from an article in a paper, my student pulled out his notebook and began writing.

 I stopped speaking and carefully asked “What are you writing buddy?" he scribbled some more and looked up and said

" What you just said Mrs. Stromberg, it was a great tip and I don't want to forget it."

I could have cried. I was so ecstatic that not only did he hear me, he was actively listening. As a teacher you don't get that very often but man it is worth the wait.